| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 10132001 | Faculty of Health Sciences | Department: Dentistry General |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 3 years | Total credits: 397 | NQF level: 07 |
Important information for all prospective students for 2025
The admission requirements apply to students who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications. Click here for this Faculty Brochure.?
Minimum requirements | |||
Achievement level | |||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Sciences | APS |
NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | |
4 | 4 | 4 | 25 |
For advice on a second-choice programme, please consult a Student Advisor. To make an appointment, send an email to [email protected].
Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.
Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.
Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.
Successful candidates will be notified once admitted or conditionally admitted.
Applicants should check their application status regularly on the UP Student Portal at click here.
Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the International undergraduate prospectus 2025: Applicants with a school leaving certificate not issued by Umalusi (South Africa), available at click here.
International students: Click here
A limited number of places are made available to citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens), with those from SADC countries being given preference. Applicants who have multiple citizenships, including South African citizenship, will be considered to be South African.
Transferring students
A transferring student is a student who, at the time of applying at the University of Pretoria (UP)is/was a registered student at another tertiary institution. A transferring student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance. Students who have been dismissed from other institutions due to poor academic performance will not be considered for admission to UP.
Closing dates: Same as above
Returning students
A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme is/was a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP. A returning student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance.
Closing date for applications from returning students is the same as the above
Note: Any deliberate ommission of information, or false information provided by an applicant in the application may result in the immediate cancellation of the apllication, admission or registration
General Academic Regulations G1-G15 are applicable to bachelor’s degrees.
Please note:
Each student in Oral Hygiene must apply to the Registrar of the Health Professions Council of South Africa for registration as a student in Oral Hygiene immediately after admission to the first year of study.
*The final examination for Oral biology (MDB 172) will take place at the end of the second semester together with Pharmacology (FAR 172) which is a semester module in the second semester.
**Students are exempted from the language modules (ZUL 119 or AFR 111 or SEP 119) on the basis of the successful completion of a language proficiency test at the beginning of the year.
Examinations of the first, second and third years of study
Promotion to next year of study
Admission to the second year of study
Progression to the third year of study
Academic exclusion
The degree is conferred with distinction on a student who has obtained a sub-minimum of 65% in each examination module of the final year of study, with an overall average of at least 75% (not rounded) for all the final-year examination modules.
Minimum credits: 150
Fundamental modules: AFR 111, AIM 111, AIM 121, ELH 121, ELH 122, SEP 119, ZUL 119 and UPO 110.
Examination modules: ACO 171, ANA 171, FAR 172, FLG 171, GMB 171, MDB 172 and NHS 171.
Progression modules: ODO 171, ORD 171, PDL 171, TBW 171 and VKM 171.
Module content:
Basic Afrikaans grammar and pronunciation and a specific technical (oral health) vocabulary is studied and practised to enable students to converse with patients in the professional environment. In this practical module, students are required to memorise phrases and to practise conversation skills under close observation.
Module content:
Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology.
Module content:
Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.
Module content:
Academic reading as well as academic writing and presentation skills, based on the approach followed in the healthcare sciences. *Presented to students in Health Sciences only.
Module content:
Study of specific language skills required in the Health Care Sciences, including interviewing and report-writing skills. *Presented to students in Health Sciences only. (BCur, BDietetics, BOH, BOT, Brad, BPhysT)*
Module content:
*For absolute beginners only.
* Students from the School of Healthcare Sciences, who already possess the language skills taught in this module, may write an exemption examination.
The acquisition of basic Sepedi communicative skills with emphasis on everyday expressions and suitable high frequency vocabulary, within specific social situations.
Module content:
*For absolute beginners only
* Students from the School of Healthcare Sciences, who already possess the language skills taught in this module, may write an exemption examination.
The acquisition of basic isiZulu communicative skills with emphasis on everyday expressions and suitable high frequency vocabulary, within specific situations.
Module content:
This module will introduce the new oral hygiene student to the dental and university environment. It will also serve as the foundation for the total oral hygiene programme and will assist the student to feel more comfortable and settled in the new environment. This module entails the following:
• Professionalism and ethics
• Group work and communication
• Use of the library and correct referencing in assignments
• Academic skills such as academic writing and reading, effective studying and
how to do assignments
• Dental terminology
• Dental specialities
• Dental instruments, equipment and materials
• Dental charting
• Infection control
• Occupational health and safety
• Brushing and flossing
Module content:
The emphasis of the study in anatomy is particularly focused on all aspects of the oral cavity, but certain aspects of the anatomy of the head and neck is also included. This involves aspects of the osteology of the skull and jaw bones, the anatomy of the temporomandibular joint, salivary glands, nose, paranasal sinuses, pharynx, larynx and specific muscle groups as well as the cranial nerves, vascular supply and lymphatic drainage of the head and neck, as well as the radiographic features of some of the above.
Module content:
The module will provide the oral hygiene student with appropriate pharmacological knowledge and understanding of drugs that necessitate treatment modification to the patient’s treatment plan. The oral hygiene student will be equipped with a practical understanding of pharmaco-therapeutic concepts which are essential for prescribing medicaments used for oral hygiene, and to make an informed choice of a safe suitable local anaesthetic drug for the administering thereof to a patient. He/she must be able to apply knowledge of pharmacology in the clinical setting and in performing procedures pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene.
Module content:
Physiology is the study of organisms at a cellular and system level. Physiology will provide the oral hygiene student with the necessary knowledge to understand functioning and abnormalities of the human body, the vital organs necessary for normal functioning and the systems that provide essential communication for the control of the body functions and homeostasis. The module content will serve as pre-knowledge for clinical subjects.
Module content:
This module will provide the oral hygiene student with a thorough basic knowledge of:
The module content will serve as preknowledge for clinical subjects.
Module content:
This module will provide the oral hygiene student with a broad basic knowledge on the development, normal macroscopic and microscopic structure and functions of the oral cavity, teeth and related structures. The module content will serve as pre-knowledge for clinical subjects and oral pathology in the oral hygiene programme.
Module content:
This practical-orientated module will provide students with training in basic life support, automated external defibrillation, and first aid treatment to the suddenly ill or injured patient.The theoretical content will be offered in an interactive format where students are expected to master the content as self-directed learning. Practical skills will be demonstrated in the skills laboratory and students will get the opportunity to practice the skills under guidance and supervision.
Module content:
This module will enable the oral hygiene student to be competent in the evaluation of the oral health status of the child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient in terms of diseases related to the hard tissues of the oral cavity plus the pulpa and peri-apical tissues, and be able to:
• correctly diagnose the diseases;
• correctly diagnose the patient’s risk profile;
• instruct a patient to be capable of exercising self-protective measures;
• change the behavioural pattern of the patient through motivation;
• create resistant and optimally maintainable dental hard tissues for oral health;
• reverse early lesions where possible;
• refer patients for restorative and rehabilitative treatment.
Module content:
This module will empower the oral hygiene student to recognise and refer limited developmental and structural abnormalities of the growing and mature dento-craniofacial structures. It will furthermore provide the student with the knowledge and skills to perform orthodontic procedures pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene. This module will comprise lectures only.
Module content:
This module will provide the oral hygiene student with knowledge of the:
• Macro- and microscopic features of the periodontium
• Function of the periodontium
• Assessment and diagnosis of periodontal diseases
• Determine risk factors of periodontal diseases
Module content:
The purpose of this module is to:
• embed communication skills required during patient management; and
• facilitate an understanding of the patient’s psycho-social dimensions that may
influence health-related behaviour and customer demand.
Module content:
This module entails lectures and clinical work, pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene, in the pre-clinical ward. It is aimed at enabling an oral hygiene student to develop his/her skills, knowledge and attitude by means of developing, implementing and evaluating a needs-driven primary and basic-secondary preventive programme for a patient.
Minimum credits: 121
Examination modules: ODO 271, PDL 271, ORD 271 and GAP 271.
Progression modules: VKM 272, TBW 272, RAD 272 and OFC 271.
Module content:
The module will enable the oral hygiene student to diagnose the oral health problems of any given community. Application of the knowledge gained from the module will enable him/her to participate in relevant primary and secondary preventive programmes to improve the oral health of that community in accordance with the public Oral Health Policy of the RSA. Oral hygiene students will visit special schools, nursery schools and hospitals where oral health programmes are implemented and maintained.
Module content:
This module is a continuation of Odontology 171. It will enable the oral hygiene student to be competent in the evaluation of the oral health status of the child, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient in terms of diseases related to the hard tissues of the oral cavity plus the pulpa and peril-apical tissues, and be able to:
• Correctly diagnose the diseases
• Correctly diagnose the patient’s risk profile
• Instruct a patient to be capable of exercising self-protective measures
• Change the behavioural pattern of the patient through motivation
• Create resistant and optimally maintainable dental hard tissues for oral health
• Reverse early lesions where possible
• Refer patients for restorative and rehabilitative treatment
Module content:
This module is designed to provide the oral hygiene student with knowledge and skills regarding:
• Local anaesthetics
• Oral surgery procedures
• Traumatology and
• Basic knowledge regarding advanced maxillo-facial surgery.
Module content:
This module will empower the oral hygiene student to recognise and refer limited developmental and structural abnormalities of the growing and mature dento-cranofacial structures. It will furthermore provide the student with the knowledge and skills to perform orthodontic procedures pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene. The module consists of lectures and clinical work.
Module content:
This module is a continuation of Periodontology 171 and will provide the oral hygiene student with knowledge of:
• Periodontal diseases
• Pathogenesis of periodontal diseases
• Implantology
• Surgical procedures
The module will also enable the oral hygiene student to:
• Compile, exercise and evaluate a comprehensive and effective preventive, therapeutic and maintenance plan for the periodontal patient
• Actively participate in the prevention, treatment and maintenance of periodontal conditions
Module content:
The oral hygiene student must be competent to produce a variety of intra- and extra-oral radiographs of good diagnostic quality. He/she must also recognise relevant anatomical landmarks on a radiograph and distinguish between normal and abnormal appearances. He/she must at all times be conscious of possible deleterious effects of radiation on biological systems.
Module content:
The purpose of this module is to:
• Embed aspects related to occupational health and safety
• Embed communication skills required during patient management
• Develop presentation skills to address large audiences
• Facilitate an understanding of professionalism and ethical behaviour
• Embed knowledge about legal aspects that are related to dentistry
• Embed knowledge/skills in terms of administrative management and scheduling in a dental practice
• Embed psychological aspects pertaining to patient management
• Facilitate the management of a primary preventive treatment plan
• Provide primary preventive treatment in cooperation with senior BChD students
Module content:
This module is a continuation of Preventive Oral Health 171 and is aimed at enabling an oral hygiene student to develop his/her skills, knowledge and attitude by means of devising, implementing and evaluating a needs-driven primary and basic-secondary preventive programme for a patient. This module entails lectures and clinical work, pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene, on real patients.
Minimum credits: 126
Examination modules: RAD 372, MFP 371, VKM 372, PSB 371, RCH 371, TBW 372, COU 371 and OFC 371.
Attendance modules: ORD 372, PDL 372, POH 371 and GAP 371
Module content:
This module will equip the oral hygiene student with the theoretical underpinning for behavioural change and the necessary skills to counsel a patient on lifestyle behavioural change. This would include, but not limited to promoting a healthy diet and smoking cessation. This would consist of both lectures and practical sessions with clients/patients.
Module content:
This module consists of practical work in the community only and is a continuation of Community as Patient 271.
Module content:
This module introduces the oral hygiene student to the maxillo-facial pathology commonly encountered in general practice. It will enable the student to differentiate between variants of normal and pathological lesions. A basic knowledge of the etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical appearance of the lesions will be acquired. Selected treatment modalities relevant to the oral hygienist will also be discussed in this module.
Module content:
This module is a continuation of Orofacial surgery 271 and will consist of clinical work only.
Module content:
This module is chosen as an elective and planned around orthodontics as a main field of study. This module will include:
• Cephalometric analysis
• Different fixed orthodontic techniques
• Orthodontic procedures pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene
• Presentation of seminars
Module content:
The module will provide the oral hygiene student with an in depth overview of the current status of Periodontics with the emphasis on the clinical application, understanding and role of the oral hygienist as part of the team. The purpose is to train the oral hygiene student to be competent in applying his/her expertise and knowledge in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases.
Module content:
This module is chosen as an elective to further studies in the field of community dentistry. This module will provide the oral hygiene student with a deeper understanding and skills in the fields of Preventive Dentistry, Oral Epidemiology, and Administration and Management. This will enable him/her to be able to develop and manage a needs-related preventive programme for the individual high risk patient and also for a specific community or population. It will be expected of the student to submit a minor research report demonstrating his/her understanding and skills in the field of public oral health. The main subject consists of four syllabus themes, namely:
• Preventive dentistry
• Oral epidemiology
• Project management
• Minor research report
Module content:
Patients with special needs pose unique challenges, especially in relation to the need for an inventive and carefully planned approach suited to each individual’s needs. This module will therefore equip the oral hygiene student to manage patients in this regard. The focus is on adapting and modifying the approach and management of the patient according to the specific need for instance pregnancy, physical and mental disabilities, medical conditions and age.
Module content:
This module is aimed at providing the oral hygiene student with the necessary skills, attitude and relevant knowledge by studying the following aspects in radiation physics relevant to dentistry:
• Electromagnetic waves – their properties and behaviour
• X-rays – their specific properties, sources of X-rays and production of X-rays
• Construction of the X-ray tube
• Accurate image formation
• Interaction of photons with living tissues
• Radiation biology
• Radiation protection
• ALARA principle
• Quality control measures
This module furthermore entails practical work in the Radiology section.
Module content:
This module will assist the oral hygienist student to become competent in the area of research by becoming active consumers of research to improve their practice and also taking part in research in the area of oral health. The student must demonstrate the ability to take part in an oral health research project under the guidance of an experienced researcher and report on aspects of the research project such as the type of research, the elements of a scientific research methodology, the data collection and the statistical method(s) used in the project and the results.
Module content:
The purpose of this module is to:
• Facilitate an understanding of technology management and maintenance
• Embed knowledge/skills in terms of administrative management and scheduling in a dental practice
• Facilitate an understanding of customer needs and demands
• Embed knowledge/skills regarding internal marketing in a dental practice
• Facilitate career management abilities
• Facilitate and understanding of an employee’s rights in terms of the labour law
• Facilitate an understanding of an oral hygienist’s role in the management of a dental practice
• Facilitate the management of a primary preventive treatment plan
• Provide primary preventive treatment in cooperation with senior BChD students
Module content:
This module entails clinical work, pertaining to the scope of oral hygiene, on patients in the preventive clinic. The module is aimed at enabling an oral hygiene student to develop his/her skills, knowledge and attitude by means of devising, implementing and evaluating a primary and basic-secondary preventive programme for a patient.
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