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Last Updated: 21 Feb 2025

Oral Health Therapy

Equips you with the scientific, theoretical and clinical skills to become oral health practitioners eligible to be registered with the Singapore Dental Council.

Course code : C72
Nanyang Polytechnic
Admission type: JAE , DAE , Poly EAE , PFP
2025 JAE ELR2B2-C aggregate: 7-9
Course duration : 3 years

Applicants will have to take and pass a manual dexterity test (MDT) as the MDT is required under industry standards to assess the applicant's fine motor skills crucial for handling of specialized instruments for effective and safe delivery of dental treatment.

All prospective healthcare students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine regime recognised in Singapore. Those who are medically-ineligible will be subject to prevailing MOH and healthcare institutions' guidelines. Those who are medically eligible and choose to remain unvaccinated may not be able to access the healthcare and community care settings to complete their clinical posting and meet the clinical training requirement necessary for graduation.

As the delivery of direct patient care is a requisite of healthcare professions, all applicants must pass a medical examination and be certified to have the following abilities to perform patient care activities in a safe and effective manner:

  1. Mental-Cognitive ability (including interpersonal-communication ability and behavioural stability) to provide safe care to populations, including safety to self, demonstrate emotional-behavioural stability to function under the stress and pressure when performing nursing care on patients, remain calm when being observed by instructors and other health care personnel during clinical practice attachments.
  2. Physical abilityto move around in the clinical environment, walk/stand, bend, reach, lift climb, push and pull, carry objects, perform patient transfers and complex sequences of hand-eye coordination.
  3. Auditory ability to hear faint body sounds, auditory alarms, normal speaking level sounds (i.e. blood pressure sounds, monitors, call bells and person-to-person report).
  4. Visual ability to detect changes in physical appearance, colour and contour, read accurately medication/ drug labels, markings on syringes and manometers, written and electronic communication.

Course details

Field of study Health Sciences
Certification offered

Diploma in Oral Health Therapy

Learn more about the course

Minimum entry requirement

You must meet the respective examination requirements in order for us to consider your application.

For N(A)-Level students seeking admission through PFP

This a Group 1 PFP course.

Subject Grade
English Language Syllabus A 1-3
Mathematics Syllabus A / Additional Mathematics 1-3

Any one of the following subjects

  • Design and Technology
  • Food and Nutrition/Nutrition and Food Science
  • Science (Chemistry, Biology)
  • Science (Physics, Biology)
  • Science (Physics, Chemistry)
1-3

Any 2 other subjects excluding CCA

1-4
For O-Level students seeking admission through JAE
Subject Grade
English Language 1-7
Additional Mathematics or Mathematics 1-6

Any one of the following subjects

  • Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemistry
  • Food & Nutrition/Nutrition & Food Science
  • Physics
  • Science (Chemistry, Biology)
  • Science (Physics, Biology)
  • Science (Physics, Chemistry)
1-6

Course modules

Year 1

Core modules

  • Head & Neck Anatomy for Clinical Assessment
  • Dental Anatomy for Clinical Assessment
  • Biological Sciences for Oral Health
  • Inorganic & Physical Chemistry in Oral Health
  • Interpersonal Health Promotion Strategies in Practice
  • Basic Dental Therapy Pre-Clinical Practice
  • Basic Dental Hygiene Pre-Clinical Practice
  • Oral Pathology for Clinical Assessment
  • Dental Chemistry & Technology in Practice
  • Human Biology for Oral Health Therapists
  • Organic & Biochemistry for Oral Health Therapists
  • Intermediate Dental Therapy Pre-Clinical Practice
  • Intermediate Dental Hygiene Pre-Clinical Practice
  • Essentials of Oral Health Therapy Practice

Complementary electives

  • General Studies
Year 2

Core modules

  • Dental Radiology in Practice
  • Pharmacology & Pain Management in Practice
  • Cell & Molecular Biology in Oral Health
  • Basic Dental Therapy Clinical Practice
  • Basic Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice
  • Career Readiness
  • Geriatric & Special Needs Dentistry in Practice
  • Society and Public Health Promotion in Practice
  • Intermediate Dental Therapy Clinical Practice
  • Intermediate Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice
  • Evidence Based Practice
  • Oral Medicine for Clinical Care

Complementary electives

  • General Studies
Year 3

Core modules

  • Essential Management Skills in Oral Health Promotion
  • Advanced Dental Therapy Clinical Practice
  • Advanced Dental Hygiene Clinical Practice
  • Industry Project Proposal
  • Oral Health Promotion Project
  • Integrated Oral Health Therapy Clinical Practice
  • Industry Project

Internship

Internship duration Various clinical education over the 3 years

Career prospects

You can practise in areas such as:

  • School dental service, at the Health Promotion Board, in school dental clinics or at mobile dental clinics
  • Private dental practices or dental institutions
  • Oral health promotion
  • Clinical audit
  • Other dental-related industries (marketing, sales and training)

Use resources and interactive tools that are available on MySkillsFuture Portal to explore various education and career pathways.

How to register

Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE)

You may register using the JAE Internet System (JAE-IS). Learn the process and how to apply.

Direct Admissions Exercise (DAE)

You may apply through the respective polytechnics’ websites. Learn the process and how to apply.

Polytechnic Early Admissions Exercise (Poly EAE)

You may register using the Poly EAE Portal. Learn the process and how to apply.

Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP)

You may register using the PFPAE Portal. Learn the process and how to apply.

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