The Course of Dental Hygienist

The course began for the first time in September 2000 with the approval of CTEVT. The course is designed to enable the trainees as a dental hygienist to provide preventive, promotive and primary dental health care services independently in the community and as well as under the supervision of qualified dental doctor in hospital settings.

Objectives

The overall objective of the pgrogram is to contribute to the human resource development in the field of oral health by producing the dental hygienist, thus to fulfil the human resource requirement in the country.

After the completion of the course the trainees will be able to:

• understand basic anatomy, physiology and pathology of human body in general and teeth and gum in particular
• understand the determinants of oral health
• deliver oral health education on oral hygiene, maintenance, and prevention of oral health problem in the community
• diagnose and treat gum diseases at early stages
• assist to the qualified dental surgeon in advanced clinical set-up
• provide first-aid during the medical emergency
• refer the cases to the higher service facilities and to dental doctor as early as possible

Course Description

The training course fulfils the academic, technical knowledge and skill required for the Community Oral Hygienist in all tasks and duties. The training course comprises 30% of theoretical part and practical aspect covers the rest 70% of the course weightage. The theoretical part mainly comprises Basic Human & Dental Anatomy and Physiology, Basic Oral Pathology, Microbiology, Sterilization of instruments, Basic Periodontics & Periodontal Diseases, Iinstrumentation, Dental Hygiene & Oral Health, Knowledge about First Aid & Medical Emergencies, Clinical Procedures and Dental office Management. On the Practical training program, the trainees will have demonstrations on oral hygiene maintenance methods, plaque control methods, patient handling and oral prophylaxis procedures (scaling). The examinations will assess the trainees on both theoretical and practical skill.

The trainees successfully completing the course is expected to deliver oral health education to the people, diagnose the early periodontal problems and treat them in rural set-up thus minimizing the oral health and hygiene problems. The training course is also aimed to deliver the employment on a respectful job. The OJT (on the job training) after successfully completing the course, is yet another opportunity to perform the job under the supervision of the dental surgeons in related hospital / health post. The OJT aims the trainees to be familiar and be experienced in the field of clinical practice.

Basic Academic Qualification

S.L.C. or Equivalent with Mathematics & Science / Health compulsory.

Entrance Qualification

Successfull completion of written entrance examination conducted by CTEVT

Course Duration

Total 18 months including 3 months O.J.T.

Course Medium

English & Nepali

Performance Criteria

Attendance

• 80% compulsory for theory classes
• 90% compulsory for Practical / Clinical classes

Examinations

• Monthly preparatory test by the institute
• Three internal assessment in theory & practical by the institute
• Sent-up (preparatory) examination before OJT course placement
• Final examination at the end of the course on Theory & Practical, scheduled and conducted by CTEVT, Examination Division

The outstanding student of the semester will be provided with a scholarship.

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