Bachelor of Oral Health
Course code: 841AC
March
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available
94.10 - Lowest selection rank 2026 (guide only)
Access Melbourne is available
March
AUD $80,984 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 7 (with no bands less than 7)
Course structure
Overview
The Bachelor of Oral Health is a three-year degree that requires the successful completion of 8 compulsory (core) subjects. The Bachelor of Oral Health subjects are year-long.
The course has four main components:
Oral health sciences
Study subjects that provide a theoretical background to the procedures used in providing dental care, including: the structure and function of normal and abnormal tissues of the body, and principles of treatment of disease.
Social sciences and health promotion
Take on subjects concerned with preventing dental disease in the community. Community studies and oral health promotion are a major feature of this component, but it also includes ethics, psychology, sociology and research methods.
Preventive and clinical dentistry
Here you'll study subjects related to oral health therapy practice (which are common to dental hygienists' and dental therapists' clinical practice). Subjects span from infection control and instrumentation through to dental material and examination procedures.
Vocational and clinical practice
Take on study involving clinical management of dental decay in children, adolescents and young adults. Clinical work is undertaken at the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne in all years of the course and at other metropolitan and rural community health centres in the final year of the course.
Sample course plan
View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this bachelor.
300 point plan
Year 1
100 pts
Year 2
100 pts
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this degree.
First year subjects
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Society and Health 1 · 25 pts |
This first-year subject is a compulsory subject in the Bachelor of Oral Health. It supports students as they develop their academic and critical reflection skills through exploring evidence related to the complex interplay of social factors that contribute to health and oral health outcomes at an individual, community and population level. This subject introduces students to health sociology and psychology and includes topics related to: the socio-demographic, cultural, economic, commercial and environmental determinants of health; psychological and psychosocial development; psychosocial factors that impact on oral health and disease experience and the utilisation of oral health services; oral health care planning and delivery. Students will participate in a range of individual and team-based learning opportunities, including lectures, seminars, workshops, presentations and project work, and the completion of online learning modules. |
| Oral Health Sciences 1 · 37.5 pts |
This subject comprises five modules: General Anatomy and Physiology: this subject component integrates the structure and function of human body systems relevant to the oral health care of the dental patient. Topics to be covered include the structure and function of the cardiovascular, lymphatic, nervous, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Oral Anatomy and Histology: this subject component covers the hard and soft tissues of the human dentition. Topics to be covered include the morphological anatomy of both the deciduous and permanent dentition as well as the development and microscopic structure of the human oral tissues such as enamel, dentine, dental pulp and the periodontal ligament. Plaque Related Diseases: this subject component integrates concepts in microbiology, microbial ecology, biochemistry, immunology and physiology that are relevant to the understanding of oral health and disease. Throughout this subject, students will develop knowledge regarding the common oral diseases that are caused by bacteria that are part of dental plaque, especially periodontitis and dental caries (tooth decay). Students will gain knowledge of the theoretical basis supporting the prevention of these diseases at an individual and community level. Head and Neck Anatomy: this subject component integrates the structure and function of body tissues of the head and neck including the embryology of the craniofacial region, the structure and function of the nerve and vascular supply of the head and neck, lymphatic drainage of the head, osteology of the skull, myology of the head and neck and the pterygomandibular space. Pathology: this subject component covers inflammation and infections, defense mechanism, immunology, healing and repair; pathological conditions causing abnormal bleeding; neoplasia and cardio-vascular disease; disorders of the nervous system and endocrine system; and infectious diseases and allergies. |
| Oral Health Practice 1 · 37.5 pts |
This subject will commence as a pre-clinical laboratory subject, building practical skills to prepare students for dental clinical practice. Students will develop initial manual dexterity and self-evaluation skills using virtual simulation facilities. Students will apply knowledge of disease processes, anatomy, common materials, equipment and instrumentation, and techniques for the management of caries (decay) and periodontal (gum) diseases. Students will undertake tasks on manikins to develop skills in preparing and restoring lost tooth structure (fillings), and in periodontal cleaning. Students will learn about correct posture, safety, and working as a team (assistant and operator) in the dental operatory during the provision of these procedures. Students will develop knowledge and skills regarding clinical dental practice. The clinical procedures of history taking, clinical examination, diagnosis and provision of simple treatment plans will be introduced and students will gain knowledge of dental record keeping requirements. Students will gain knowledge of their responsibilities under the law to provide a safe environment for their patients, staff and themselves, together with knowledge of the current published standards of practice. Students will also gain knowledge of infection control strategies, practice protocols and documentation required to provide a safe clinical environment. Clinical sessions will allow students to practise and reinforce the skills in safe work practices and infection control procedures while practising the clinical skills of history taking, clinical examination, plaque index, prophylaxis and application of topical fluoride. During these clinical sessions, students will develop skills in ergonomic work practices in a clinical environment. Student learning will include patient-centred oral health care practice. They will learn to classify periodontal diseases and develop skills in non-surgical periodontal debridement. They will also be introduced to the concept and evidence of minimal intervention dentistry and how it relates to non-surgical management and surgical treatment of dental caries and restoration of teeth. Students will gain knowledge of dental materials commonly used for direct restorative procedures. Students will also be introduced to dental radiology, dental radiographic techniques and interpretation of radiographs. |
Second year subjects
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Health Promotion 2 · 25 pts |
This subject comprises four modules: Health Promotion Principles: Public health and the social determinants of health, primary health care, health promotion and education; health promotion models and strategies; evidence-based oral health promotion; health promotion programs; health promotion program planning, implementation and evaluation. Health Education: Health education in context; health behaviours, communication and counselling skills; teaching and learning methodology; interpersonal and group skills; health education models and frameworks; educational evaluation; and may include field visits and practical work. Applied Health Education: School curriculum frameworks, settings and strategies for health education, educational technology and aids for oral health and applied health education experience via in-class practical sessions, interviews and field visits. Ethical Practice and Research in Oral Health: Policies that affect oral health practice, dental professional practice regulation and legislation, the principles and application of ethics to health care and human research, privacy, record keeping and health consumer issues; ethics for professional practice, selection of and preparation for final year oral health therapy research projects. |
| Oral Health Sciences 2 · 25 pts |
This subject comprises four modules: Pharmacology and Pain Management: local anaesthetics agents and drug schedules; the pharmacology of local anaesthesia; applied anatomy relevant to local analgesia; administration of infiltration and inferior dental nerve block analgesia, complications of local analgesia and the management of dental pain. Oral Biology – cariology and periodontology: The causation, natural history, clinical appearance, treatment and prevention of the common dental conditions: caries and periodontal disease. Oral medicine and pathology: healing and repair in the oral cavity; developmental abnormalities of the dentition; microbiology, biochemistry and pathology of caries and periodontal diseases; pigmentation of the oral mucosa; oral ulcerations; premalignant oral lesions; cysts of the oral region; dysplasia and neoplasia of the oral mucosa; odontogenic neoplasms; dermatological and salivary gland disorders; infectious diseases and specific oral infections; oral manifestations Management of patients with complex and additional needs: management of patients with speech pathology; cardiovascular conditions; respiratory disease; endocrine, haematological, neurological, psychiatric and neoplastic disorders; and intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities. |
| Oral Health Practice 2 · 50 pts |
This subject comprises lectures, seminars, preclinical practicum, and clinical practicum. The preclinical practicum focuses on an update on dental materials and the principles and techniques of restorative dentistry in both the deciduous and permanent dentitions. The clinical practicum includes the prevention and management of dental caries and periodontal diseases across all ages. Topics include: advanced communication techniques; reflective practice; the principles of cavity preparation; minimal intervention dentistry; reasons for failure of restorations; cuspal overlays; stainless steel crowns; pulp therapy; exodontia technique; post extraction management; space maintenance; periodontics; traumatology; orthodontics within the scope of an oral health therapist (including: orthodontic materials and techniques required for an oral health therapist in orthodontic role; rationale for orthodontic treatment; cause of malocclusion; indications and contra indications for orthodontic treatment; role of the oral health therapist in orthodontics; identification of orthodontic instruments, bands, brackets and attachments; identification of removable appliances); treatment planning; evaluation of treatment; and clinical experience in oral health therapy patient care, including the administration of local analgesia and the management of dental pain, root debridement and sub‐gingival scaling, clinical photography, and the clinical management of dental caries. |
Third year subjects
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Oral Health Therapy Research · 25 pts |
Oral Health Therapy Research is a yearlong final year subject within the Bachelor of Oral Health program. In this subject, students will work on a research area, of their choice, relevant to the field of oral health therapy. Students will undertake a literature review, formulate research questions or hypotheses, and develop a research proposal, applying the principles of research methodology and evidence-based practice to address their identified research problem. Students will learn how health policy and health sociology can influence oral health therapy research and practice. They will develop skills in oral and written communication, and in team-based and interprofessional practice. Students will be assigned to research groups, to enable peer support and collaboration with students researching similar topics. Each group will be appointed a research supervisor who will support them in the development of their individual research proposal. |
| Oral Health Practice 3 · 75 pts |
This subject comprises lectures, seminars, on-line modules, preclinical and clinical experience and encompasses all aspects of oral health therapy patient care utilising student directed learning and self-assessment, reflective practice and problem-based learning. Students will engage in supported clinical practice providing the full oral health therapy scope of practice within general and specialist dental practices in the public and private sectors, in rural and metropolitan settings, special needs and outreach dental care programs. Topics of speciality to this subject are: aetiology and management of early childhood caries; oral health care for preschool children; continued development of diagnosis and treatment planning for oral health therapy care; further development in the provision and evaluation of preventive, periodontal and restorative treatment and orthodontic procedures; atraumatic restorative techniques; vital tooth bleaching and mouthguards; implant maintenance; advanced periodontal treatment planning and maintenance; aetiology, differential diagnosis and management of enamel defects; child protection and mandatory reporting; and advanced clinical experience in oral health therapy patient care. This subject completes the clinical and educational preparation for full Oral Health Therapy (OHT) scope of practice including:
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