Oral Hygiene Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope
Degrees offered: BS, B.Sc.(Hons), Diploma, B.Sc., M.Sc.
What is Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is a very important aspect of overall hygiene. One of the first things people notice about each other is their smiles. Keeping the teeth, gums, and mouth healthy is very important, for aesthetic as well as health purposes. Poor dental health can lead to other issues such as diabetes and heart diseases apart from the obvious decay of teeth.
This is where Oral Hygiene (OH) comes in. Oral Health (OH) involves learning and developing scientific, technical, and clinical skills to practice oral health therapy. This programme imparts knowledge about oral healthcare strategies like scaling, polishing, cleaning, and maintaining healthy teeth and gums. As this is not a very popular course among the masses, it is a favourable choice to make a career in.
Dental Hygiene (DH) involves gaining an understanding of all aspects related to oral hygiene. It consists of several techniques and strategies that are required to assess and amend oral health such as taking radiographs, administering local anaesthesia, or placing fissure sealants accurately. The students of this course play an instrumental role in promoting oral hygiene and education among individuals and the masses.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Oral Hygiene
For Bachelor’s
Must have qualified 10+2 from a recognized educational board.
Primary science subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
Securing a minimum of 50% aggregate is mandatory.
For Master’s
Must have a Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene or other similar courses.
Entrance Exams for Oral Hygiene
The Oral Hygiene course does not have any specific entrance examinations. Most of the entrance tests conducted are unique to the institution of study. These entrance examinations are also followed by a round of personal interviews or group discussions based on which one gets admission. After all the rounds of interviews and discussions are assessed, a merit list is released by the respective colleges which contain the names of the selected students. Most of the tests and interviews contain general aptitude and logical reasoning questions, as well as questions related to the course itself.
There are two common entrance tests which are considered for Oral Hygiene students:
Bachelor’s Course:
NBDHE: The National Board Dental Hygiene Examination is administered by the Joint Commission of National Dental Examination. It consists of standardized tests that measure the student’s readiness for the course by assessing their ability to understand basic information about the field.
DHAE: The Dental Hygiene Assessment Exam is a common test that is required for all dental hygiene programmes aspirants. This exam is conducted by Evolve and tests the student’s general knowledge, critical thinking, and biology skills.
Master’s Course
Based on the institution of study, the college will have its entrance examination procedure. One mandatory requirement for all candidates in the Master’s course is to have a Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Dental Hygiene or other related courses.
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Scope of Oral Hygiene in India and Abroad
Individuals nowadays are giving more importance to oral health and hygiene. The amount of patients moving towards dental practitioners is increasing. The Oral Hygiene course has a wide scope in India in terms of a career option. However, there are not many colleges within India that offer this course.
The scope abroad, both in terms of college and career is wider. Several universities outside India offer insightful Oral Hygiene courses. Career options are also vast as dental practitioners and hygienists are needed in all cities and countries.
Since this is not a very mainstream dentistry course, the job opportunities don’t have too much competition, thus making it easier to land a well-paying job in this field. Students can work in many different roles, and with good technical skills and experience, they can move up the ladder quickly.
Course Fees Oral Hygiene
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG |
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Data not available
|
3.08 K
B.Sc. in Oral Hygiene at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
|
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Data not available
|
3.08 K
B.Sc. in Oral Hygiene at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi
|
| PG |
4.00 Lakhs
M.Sc. in Oral Hygiene at Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University, Jhunjhunu
|
1.10 Lakhs
P.G.D in Oral Hygiene at Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India, New Delhi
|
4.00 Lakhs
M.Sc. in Oral Hygiene at Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University, Jhunjhunu
|
1.10 Lakhs
P.G.D in Oral Hygiene at Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India, New Delhi
|
| DIPLOMA |
30.30 K
Diploma in Oral Hygiene at Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Salem
|
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Data not available
|
4.40 Lakhs
Diploma in Oral Hygiene at Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad
|
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Data not available
|
Course Subjects
The course subjects differ with every institution but mainly comprises of:
● Dental Anatomy
● Dental Radiology
● Dental Physiology and Histology
● Oral Prophylaxis
● Preventive Dentistry
● General and Dental Pharmacology
● Dental Materials and Equipment
● Ethics
● Pathology and Microbiology
● Periodontics
● Oral Medicine and Surgery
● Pain Control and Anesthesia
● Basic Computer Programming
● Oral Hygiene Practicals
● Radiology Practicals etc.
Careers in Oral Hygiene
Apart from the above-mentioned career options, there are many other possibilities open for naval architects to employ their skills and obtain good jobs. A few other careers may include:
● Consultant
● Dental Health Policy Advisor
● Professor
● Dental Specialty Clinics
● Nursing Homes
● Physicians Assistant
● Dental Assistant
Upcoming trends
The dental industry is expanding with leaps and bounds due to several new trends that are arising in the field. Due to advancement of technology and greater knowledge, several developments are coming up, which consist of:
Laser Technology: Laser technology is one of the biggest trends rising in the industry. Lasers can help treat a wide variety of dental ailments and eliminate discomfort during dental procedures. It is also very quick and effortless and efficient in maintaining oral health.
3D Printing: There is a great possibility that 3D printing of teeth could be possible in the near future. This could be very beneficial to the industry as these printers could potentially produce crowns, inlays, veneers, custom aligners, and retainers.
Application Era: In the present scenario, many dental hygiene apps are making their way into the market. These apps involve symptom assessment and connecting with oral hygiene devices. Apps can also provide oral hygiene tips and dental education, track oral health and tobacco consumption, etc.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
There are several career opportunities under NA. Many public, as well as private sector companies, are looking to recruit naval architects for different purposes. Naval architects also have a great scope with the government for submarines, ships, and warfare machine building. A few of the job profiles available to NA students are:
Job Profile | Job Description |
Dentists are responsible for cleaning, treating, and maintenance of a patient’s teeth, gums, and mouth. They provide advice on taking care of the teeth and gums as well as diet selections that have an impact on oral health. | |
Medical Assistants | They are responsible for completing all the clinical and administrative work in hospitals, dental offices, and other healthcare facilities. |
Nurses are responsible for helping dentists administer treatment to the patients. They regulate medication and monitor the progress of the patient’s health, and educate the patient and their family about post-hospital care and illness avoidance tips. | |
Dental Hygienist | They conduct initial screenings of the patient’s mouth, clean their teeth, and offer preventive advice and care for their patients. |
Veterinary Dentist | They are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of the teeth and mouth of different types of animals, mostly domestic. They offer preventive advice and oral healthcare tips for animals. |
Top Recruiters
Companies all over the world are eager to recruit DH students. Both the public and private sectors offer well-paying jobs to these students. Some of the companies that offer good career opportunities include:
● HCL Healthcare Clinic
● Katara Dental Pvt Ltd
● Dentsply India
● Shorey Health Clinic
● Fortis
● Max Healthcare
● Dental Lab Expo India
● Western Dental
● Monarch Dental Pvt Ltd
Average Salary
Salaries of all dental hygienists vary with the level of skills and experience they possess. On an average scale, however, a graduate can expect the following starting salaries:
Job Profile | Average Salary |
Dentists | Rs. 3-6 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Medical Assistants | Rs. 2-3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Nurses | Rs. 1-3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Dental Hygienists | Rs. 2-5 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Veterinary Dentist | Rs. 3-6 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Oral Hygiene
There are some significant skills that an Oral Hygiene student must possess to excel in their profession. Apart from a strong technical knowledge and practice in the field, a few skills that are required for an oral hygienist include:
Dexterity: An oral hygienist needs to possess dexterity. Since they will be working in close proximity with someone’s mouth, they must be good with their hands and know not to fumble around.
Attention to Detail: Some rules and skills must be followed when treating somebody’s gum and teeth. Attention to detail is very important in this profession as even a slight miscalculation could lead to disastrous consequences.
Interpersonal Skills: A dental hygienist has to listen to the problems of the clients and offer them advice and treatment. For this reason, good interpersonal skills are required. The hygienist must be a good listener and communicator, and they must motivate their clients to keep good oral health intact.
Stamina: Hygienists have to spend long hours bent over someone’s mouth and sitting. They must have well-developed stamina to be able to complete their job properly without feeling tired or losing attention.
Compassion: Often, patients that come to dental offices are highly stressed and anxious. The dentist must be compassionate and calm them down effectively before beginning treatment.
Course Curriculum for Oral Hygiene
The Bachelor’s programme covers a general overview of dental hygiene and the skills and techniques that go along with it. The curriculum emphasizes general and dental anatomy, dental hygiene, and dental materials, among other topics. The curriculum itself will vary across different institutions, but the main aim of the course is to provide ample skills and techniques to the student to become an efficient dental hygienist.
Popular Oral Hygiene Entrance Exams in India
Popular Oral Hygiene Colleges in India VIEW ALL
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What is the difference between a dental hygienist, a dental assistant, and dental technologist?
Answer :
A dental hygienist usually delivers treatment to patients under the general supervision of a dentist; a dental assistant may perform a limited number of services for a patient but normally assists the dentist chairside; a dental technologist does not treat patients directly, but instead performs laboratory procedures from a written prescription (from a licensed dentist).
Question: What are the highest paying jobs in DH?
Answer :
The highest paying jobs in Dental Hygiene include dentists, assistant dentists, nurses, consultants, radiology experts, surgeons, veterinary dentists, etc. The pay package will be increased synonymously with an increase in knowledge of the field and experience.
Question: Which are the most sought-after colleges for Dental Hygiene?
Answer :
The most popular college choices for DH include Manipal College of Dental Sciences (Mangalore), Patna Dental College, Institute of Dental Sciences (Bareilly), etc.
Question: Where do dental hygienists usually work?
Answer :
Most dental hygienists work in private dental offices, but there are also ample job opportunities in the public sector. Additionally, these hygienists can work within a variety of healthcare settings such as care organizations, correctional institutions, and nursing homes, or in the corporate world. Other opportunities also include sales, public health, research, and education sectors.
Question: Who is a dental hygienist?
Answer :
A dental hygienist is a licensed healthcare professional and health advocate who provides preventive, educational, and therapeutic services for the promotion of oral health and control of oral illness. They perform initial screenings and provide advice on protecting oral health effectively.
