Dental Hygiene

Dental hygienists are healthcare workers with a qualifying university degree obtained according to the provisions of art. para. 3 of Italian Law no. 502 of 30/12/1992 and amendments introduced by art. 3 of Italian Law no. 251 of 10/08/2000, whose activities relate to the prevention and treatment of orodental disease

The activities of the dental hygienist may be carried out under the authority of an authorised dentist and on a freelance professional basis.

Specifically, the dental hygienist:

- works to prevent orodental disease;

- delivers dental health education;

- works on primary preventive oral health projects within the public health system;

- fills out the dental records and gathers technical and statistical information;

- carries out tartar removal and root planing, and topically administers various prophylaxes;

- trains patients in various oral hygiene methods and the use of diagnostic methods to highlight plaque, motivating towards regular check-ups;

- informs on correct diet for healthcare purposes.

Generally speaking, the first year of the programme studies the basic learning activities and medical-scientific English, including course units which tackle issues of hygienist-patient relations and the understanding of the principles underlying scientific method.

The second and third years involve the study of medical, surgical and specialist subjects together with the study of specific dental subjects concerning oral hygiene and professional internships.

The programme covers the following learning areas: 1) basic preparatory sciences; 2) interdisciplinary medical sciences; 3) applied technical medical sciences and internship.

1. Admission requirements and assessment

This study programme has restricted access. The number of places is set annually by MIUR at national level; an entrance exam is set in the methods and on the dates set in the call for applications for the Healthcare Professions, published annually on the School website. Admission to the degree programme is subject to the possession of a five-year secondary school diploma or equivalent suitable qualification obtained abroad, or a four-year secondary school diploma and diploma for the relative supplementary year, or, where no longer active, admitted students will be assigned additional learning requirements.

Applicants shall also demonstrate the knowledge and competences defined annually by ministerial decree for the entrance exams to degree programmes with nationally restricted access. The number of places, entrance exam date, contents and selection methods are published annually in the relative call for applications.

2. Assessment of basic knowledge

The knowledge and competence requirements for admission are deemed to be met by applicants who obtain the following scores in the entrance exam:

for students in the quota of Italian, EU and equivalent nationals: 20; for students in the quota of non-EU citizens resident abroad: as laid down in the laws in force.

The entrance exams will be held by 31 January of each year.

3. Additional learning requirements and assessment

Enrolled students who did not obtain the minimum score in the entrance exam may be assigned the following Additional Learning Requirements ("OFA"), which must be completed during the first year of the programme:

Basic Medical Knowledge.

The Additional Learning Requirements are deemed to have been passed when students pass the exam in:

Human Morphological Science and Physiology

Students not completing the requirements by the date set by the Academic Bodies and published on the University portal will be required to re-enrol to the first year of the programme as repeating students.

4. Exemption of assessment of basic knowledge

Only applicants having obtained the credits indicated in the following subject areas in previous studies will be exempted from sitting the entrance exam:

- Subject area MED/28 (Dental Diseases): 5 CFU

- Subject area MED/10 (Biochemistry): 3 CFU

- Subject area MED/13 (Applied Biology): 3 CFU

For students from the previous degree system under D.M. 509/99, exemption will be approved if they have passed at least one exam relating to the knowledge covered by the aforementioned subject areas.

Applicants to whom this clause refers should apply for exemption when submitting their application to the Student Administration Office.