Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, BSc

The first time we will meet will be during Welcome Week.

Welcome week shall commence on Monday 14 September and will provide you with the essential information you need to understand the course, meet with some of the teaching team, and liaise with the central services of the university.

Attending Welcome Week is not only important, but also fun! There are a wide range of events and activities being held with plenty of support staff on hand to help you with your questions.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Meet the Dental team
• Get to know your fellow students
• Meet your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT)
• Study skills for Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy Students
• Learn about university systems and resources
• Explore the campus and facilities
• Find out about the support available to you throughout your studies

Occupational Health, DBS & Placement Preparation

Please ensure that you engage with all Occupational Health, DBS or Placement planning activities required by the Admissions Team. Failure to complete this by the time you register on the course may result in you not being able to proceed with your studies.

We are proud to be an inclusive University that supports a diverse community of students. Please note that if you have a disability or would like to learn more about the support that we can offer to students, please visit the Disability and Mental Health website.

Occupational Health

Students need to obtain occupational health clearance to ensure they are fit to practice. You will be prompted via your ‘MyRecord’ to complete a clearance check and directed to an online health questionnaire.

Once you have submitted your questionnaire, you are required to attend an occupational health vaccination appointment appropriate to your placement requirements. We use an external company called OH Works for this. Ahead of your appointment, please gather any vaccination documentation (paper or electronic) from your GP or workplace to take to your occupational health appointment.

Your OH vaccination appointment will take place on Monday 14 September 2026 in Ag54 (Anselm Building, Canterbury Campus). Please see the below table for the exact time of your appointment:

Surname	Date	Time	Location
A - F	14 September 2026	13.45 - 14.00	Ag54
G - L	14 September 2026	14.00 - 14.15	Ag54
M - R	14 September 2026	14.15 - 14.30	Ag54
S - Z	14 September 2026	14.30 - 14.45	Ag54

For enquiries about your occupational health clearance please email cccustudents@ohworks.co.uk or phone 01227 286288.

Uniform 

In your first year, you will be required to wear a uniform for your Simulation Practice sessions. In your second year when you go out on placement, you will be required to wear a uniform as part of your Readiness for Practice.

Important information regarding your uniform can be found on the uniform policy.

Your uniform is provided to you free of charge and is expected to last you the duration of your course.

You do not need to order your placement uniform before you start your course.

Uniform ordering is staggered by course. This means that students on different courses will be invited to order their uniform at different times. If you hear that students on another course have already been invited, please don't worry – you will be contacted when it is your course's turn.

The Placement Management Team will email you with instructions on how to order your uniform in plenty of time before your first simulation practice sessions.

These instructions will be sent to your CCCU email account. Towards the end of August, once you have been invited to register for your course, we will email you with information on how to set up your CCCU email account.

Please note that you will not be able to order your uniform until you have completed all of your registration tasks.

Clinical Placement

A core part of the BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy programme involves clinical placement within primary dental care settings.

Beginning in Year 2, you will attend placement for two days per week, continuing throughout Years 2 and 3.

Placement opportunities are provided within general dental practices across Canterbury, Kent, and the surrounding regions.

Placements provide an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills developed within the University setting to real-world patient care environments.

During placement, you will be supported by experienced clinical supervisors who will guide your learning and professional development.

Placement Information

InPlace

Once your first placement has been allocated, you will automatically receive an email with instructions on how to sign in to InPlace and access your placement information.

Placement Badge 

On placement you will be required to wear a placement badge, which will have your course title and preferred first name obtained from your MyRecord account.

This placement badge is provided to you free of charge. You will be supplied with your placement badge once you have started your course.

Please note, this is not your student ID card. 

Your Course

BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy is delivered over two semesters, each with different academic and clinical modules designed to develop your knowledge, skills, and professional practice.

Within the first few weeks of the course, there will be a lot of new information to take in as you gain access to the different computer systems, find your way around campus, and become familiar with the requirements of the programme.

It is important that you attend all scheduled sessions, particularly induction activities, occupational health appointments, mandatory training sessions, and clinical teaching.

Blackboard

The University uses Blackboard, an online learning platform which is best viewed on a computer. You should be able to view the following modules:

Semester 1

• Clinical Skills for Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy
• Dental Science
• Clinical Governance & Professional Practice

These will be your initial modules, with several more occurring during Semester 2.

Blackboard is used by the teaching staff to provide all the module information, including:

• Module handbook – An overview of the module, module leader details, learning outcomes, and assessments.
• Module timetable – In addition to the University timetable, module leaders provide information about teaching schedules, locations, and student groups.
• Lecture presentations and learning materials – These are provided throughout the duration of the module.
• Assessment information – Guidance and instructions for your assessments.
• Announcements and updates – Important information from the teaching team.
• You will also submit your assignments through Blackboard.

If you would like to learn more about the profession and oral health before starting the programme, you may find the following publications and websites useful:

• Essentials of Dental Caries. Edwina Fejerskov Kidd
• Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation. Jill S Gehrig; Rebecca Sroda; Darlene Saccuzzo
• Clinical Textbook of Dental Hygiene and Therapy. Suzanne Noble
• Teamworking in Dentistry: The Importance for Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists to Work Effectively Together—A Narrative Review 
• British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy 
• British Association of Dental Therapists 
• British Society of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry 
• Oral Health Foundation
• General Dental Council (GDC) 
• NHS Oral Health Advice 

These resources provide information about the dental professions, oral health, prevention, professional development, and current issues affecting patient care and the wider dental team.