EAE Tips: Oral Health Therapy (C72)

NYP’s Diploma in Oral Health Therapy is designed for those who are caring, patient, and meticulous, and who aspire to help people maintain good oral health and quality of life. Oral Health Therapists play a critical role in providing dental services to the community. This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to become oral health practitioners eligible for registration with the Singapore Dental Council.

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Ideal applicant

Applicants should demonstrate:

  • Interest to understand the practices of oral health in Singapore and around the world;
  • Readiness to gain real-life learning experiences in providing dental services to members of the public;
  • Good communication and presentation skills; and,
  • Some experience in working as a dental assistant, including participation in community dental work or completion of a school project in dentistry.

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Shortlisted applicants will be assessed as follows:

Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) 

The MDT is required to assess the applicant’s suitability for the course and profession. There are 3 stages to the test which will last no more than 30 minutes:

 

MDTActivityRationale

 

1

Drawing: Student is given a plastic pear and asked to make a drawingTo assess appreciation of proportioning and appreciation of dimensions

 

2

Plasticine moulding: Student is given a plastic apple and asked to mould a similar form using plasticineIn addition to (1) above; to assess digital dexterity, material manipulation, coordination, and speed

 

3

Soap cutting: Student is given a plastic cross and asked to cut a soap bar into a similar shapeIn addition to (1 & 2) above; to assess dimensional visualization, depth perception, instrument handling and precision
Interview

Shortlisted applicants are required to attend an interview with a panel of interviewers after the MDT. Applicants will be assessed on your interest, aptitude and understanding of the course as well as the oral health industry. The interview will be about 10-15 minutes.

Some questions which you may be asked during the interview include:

  • Why would you like to be an oral health therapist? 
  • Name some of the work scope of an oral health therapist and how you will collaborate with the dental team (including the supervising dentist, dental assistant, and patient services assistant) at work.
  • Share your experience and participation in any course related activities in the last one year and how it has benefitted you.
  • What are some of the special skills or talents which you possess and how you think these may help you in your journey in the course?
  • Share your views about the important skills that you should possess to be ready for work and life as a future oral health therapist. Share with us your career aspirations and how the course can help you fulfil them.
Portfolio (Optional)

You may include in your portfolio, any activities to showcase your interest. 

 

Examples of what to include in your portfolio:

  • A school dental project (If you are sharing on a group project, a brief description of your role and contribution in creating the work must be clearly stated)
  • Volunteer community dental work
  • A written reflection of your personal/family member’s dental experience
  • A pictorial journey of your own dental experience such as braces
  • Testimonials
  • Certificates (e.g. academic, achievement and/or personal development)
  • Awards or participation in competitions, both at school and/or national level
  • Relevant learning journeys or Applied Learning Module (ApLM, formerly known as Advanced Elective Modules [AEM])
  • Evidence of leadership activities or roles
  • Participation in healthcare-related CCAs

 

Notes:

  1. Course has course-level intake allowance of 50%.
  2. 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:
    • Mental-Cognitive ability (interpersonal-communication ability and behavioural stability) to:
      1. provide safe care to populations, including safety to self
      2. demonstrate emotional-behavioural stability to function under the stress and pressure when performing nursing care on patients
      3. being observed by instructors and other health care personnel during clinical practice attachments
    • Physical ability to:
      1. move around in the clinical environment, walk/stand, bend, reach, lift climb, push and pull, carry objects
      2. perform patient transfers and complex sequences of hand-eye coordination
    • Auditory ability to:
      1. hear faint body sounds
      2. auditory alarms
      3. normal speaking level sounds (i.e. blood pressure sounds, monitors, call bells and person-to-person report)
    • Visual ability to:
      1. detect changes in physical appearance, colour and contour
      2. read medication/ drug labels, syringes, manometers, and written and electronic communication accurately

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