Overview

Oral health science focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases, empowering practitioners to improve individual well-being and community health outcomes. The Bachelor of Oral Health Science at La Trobe University delivers an extensive, practice-led education designed to train dual-qualified oral health therapists in dental hygiene and dental therapy. Taught within specialized health science facilities—including on-campus clinical simulation laboratories, restorative teaching suites, and public-facing dental clinics—the program integrates clinical practice with human biosciences and public health from the outset. The curriculum progresses from foundational human anatomy, physiology, and microbiology to advanced clinical dentistry, periodontics, medicine for dentistry, and restorative treatments across all age groups. Emphasizing health equity and regional health needs, students complete clinical rotations and community-based placements across metropolitan, regional, and rural healthcare networks. Designed for empathetic, detail-oriented problem-solvers, this degree equips students with high-level clinical reasoning and preventative healthcare expertise. Graduates emerge with the practical mastery and professional accreditation required to register as oral health therapists and deliver essential oral care across public clinics, private practices, and community health agencies.

What You'll Learn

• Gross human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and oral histopathology

• Preventive oral health strategies, periodontal therapy, and disease prevention techniques

• Restorative dental procedures, deciduous tooth management, and dental materials application

• Medicine for dentistry, comprehensive medical history taking, and general health interactions

• Diagnostic reasoning, clinical treatment planning, and local anaesthesia administration

• Public health principles, oral health promotion, and community health program development

• Evidence-based practice, clinical research methodologies, and interprofessional healthcare ethics

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the programme, students will be capable of performing comprehensive oral examinations, formulating clinical treatment plans, and executing preventive, restorative, and periodontal procedures. Graduates will demonstrate high-level technical capability in identifying oral diseases, administering local anaesthetics, and delivering dental therapy care to patients of all ages. Through extensive clinical simulation practice and supervised placements across diverse community and regional health settings, learners cultivate strong patient communication, clinical decision-making, and interprofessional collaborative capabilities. They will critically evaluate health promotion strategies, observe strict infection control protocols, and adhere to legal, ethical, and safety governance frameworks. Ultimately, graduates satisfy the professional accreditation standards established by the Australian Dental Council (ADC), qualifying them to register with the Dental Board of Australia via Ahpra as oral health therapists and practice across public dental clinics, private practices, Indigenous health collectives, and health promotion organizations.