The window to your body’s health.
Oral health affects everyone every day – and normally most people don’t think about it. Good oral health allows you to speak, smile, kiss, smell, taste, and chew with self-assurance.
The University of Otago’s Bachelor of Oral Health is an exciting three-year degree programme at New Zealand’s only Faculty of Dentistry, delivering excellent and innovative education in oral health.
Who is an oral health therapist?
An oral health therapist is a highly skilled professional member of the dental team. Oral health therapists have skills in dental hygiene, dental therapy, and oral health promotion. They educate patients about their oral health; preventive care is a key aspect of their work. They are skilled at promoting healthy lifestyles and have a strong awareness of the socio-cultural influences on health. Oral health therapists diagnose and treat oral diseases (such as gum disease and dental decay), and provide quality care for patients of all ages, including restorative care for children and adolescents.
Why study Oral Health?
Good or bad, oral health impacts on people’s daily lives and good oral health can be a big part of living life comfortably. As an oral health therapist, you become part of the dental team, developing the skills to provide dental and periodontal care and to foster lifelong positive oral health attitudes and behaviour in patients. You will also obtain skills in health promotion.
Background required
In order to study Oral Health, you need to have attained a satisfactory standard in NCEA Level 3 biology or an approved equivalent.
You will also need to like working with and caring for people, as well as be reasonably fit and healthy
What will I study?
The University of Otago’s Bachelor of Oral Health is an exciting three-year degree at New Zealand’s only Faculty of Dentistry. The programme delivers excellent and innovative education in oral health. Oral Health students work with undergraduate and postgraduate dental and dental technology students. This is made possible because the programme is delivered from within the Faculty of Dentistry.
From the beginning of your study, you will work as part of a dental team. You will also have constant access to highly qualifed specialist staff. Graduates will be leaders in the field because the programme ensures its teaching and research are continually refined and improved to keep in step with oral health best-practice. The programme also focuses on enabling its students to be well-prepared for lifelong, self-directed learning.
In the first year of the degree, you will learn how the body works, particularly how oral tissues interact with their environment. You will learn the most effective use of information technology in the study and practice of oral health, and will complete a paper in Māori Society. Clinical practice begins in the first year as well; when you start to develop your clinical skills using models and phantom heads.
The second year introduces pathology, pharmacology, and medicine relevant to oral health. Students will also study a paper in Sociology and one in Public Health. A large part of the year is spent developing clinical skills by treating patients under supervision. The third (final) year concentrates on further clinical training, community oral health, and oral health promotion. You will also undertake a research project.
Career opportunities
Graduates will meet the requirements for registration as an oral health therapist.
There is a high demand for oral health graduates. Employment opportunities include working in private dental practices, specialist practices, community-based clinics, iwi-based clinics, and hospital dental clinics.
Graduates will also be able to apply knowledge about health and disease to health promotion in education, community development, and public policy.
Postgraduate study and research opportunities include the Master of Oral Health (MOH), Master of Health Sciences (MHealSc), Master of Public Health (MPH), and PhD degrees, as well as postgraduate diplomas.
Admission to the programme
Entry is competitive. To be admitted to the programme, applicants must be eligible to attend university, and should have attained a satisfactory standard in NCEA Level 3 biology or a recognised equivalent.
Online applications can be made to the Health Sciences Admissions Office website from early August, and close on 15 September of the year preceding enrolment. Late applications may be considered.
How to apply
Application information for admission into the Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) programme is available at:
Qualifications
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification page.
- Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)
Programme requirements
Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | DEOH 101 The Body and its Environment DEOH 102 The Oral Environment: Health and Disease DEOH 103 Oral Informatics DEOH 104 Clinical Oral Health Practice MAOR 102 * Māori Society * MAOR 102 must be taken in the second semester | 15 15 15 57 18 |
| 2nd year | DEOH 201 Human Disease and Pharmacology DEOH 202 Oral Health Therapy 1 DEOH 203 Oral Health Therapy 2 PUBH 202 Health Promotion SOCI 101 Sociology of New Zealand Society | 14 35 35 18 18 |
| 3rd year | DEOH 301 Community Oral Health and Oral Health Promotion DEOH 302 Advanced Oral Health Therapy 1 DEOH 303 Advanced Oral Health Therapy 2 DEOH 304 Applied Oral Health Research | 15 45 45 15 |
Papers
| Paper code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEOH101 | 2023 | The Body and Its Environment | 15 points | Semester 2 |
| DEOH102 | 2023 | The Oral Environment: Health and Disease | 15 points | Semester 1 |
| DEOH103 | 2023 | Oral Informatics | 15 points | Semester 1 |
| DEOH104 | 2023 | Clinical Oral Health Practice | 57 points | Full Year |
| DEOH201 | 2023 | Human Disease and Pharmacology | 14 points | Semester 1 |
| DEOH202 | 2023 | Oral Health Therapy 1 | 35 points | Full Year |
| DEOH203 | 2023 | Oral Health Therapy 2 | 35 points | Full Year |
| DEOH301 | 2023 | Community Oral Health and Oral Health Promotion | 15 points | Semester 1 |
| DEOH302 | 2023 | Advanced Oral Health Therapy 1 | 45 points | Full Year |
| DEOH303 | 2023 | Advanced Oral Health Therapy 2 | 45 points | Full Year |
| DEOH304 | 2023 | Applied Oral Health Research | 15 points | Full Year |
| DEOH501 | 2023 | Advanced Principles of Oral Health I | 60 points | Full Year |
| DEOH502 | 2023 | Advanced Principles of Oral Health II | 60 points | Full Year |
| DEOH580 | 2023 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
| DEOH581 | 2023 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
Key information for future students
Contact us
Faculty of Dentistry
Tel +64 3 479 7036
Email dental.admin@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/dentistry
