BA/BS in Oral hygiene

General Description: Objective(s) of a study programme: to educate and train dental hygienists based on the requirements recognized in the EU, to create possibilities for acquiring the qualification of a dental hygienist, granting the right to provide healthcare services, to foster interest in the novelties of the science and practice of oral health care, to develop creative, scientific, and critical thinking, and the sense of intellectual satisfaction from studies or work. Learning outcomes: Study results: 1. Understand the limits of the dental hygienist's professional activities and responsibilities, apply the provisions of health legislation and professional ethics documents in practice, and provide professional information according to their competence. 2. Will be able to apply the knowledge of exact, social sciences in the practice of an dental hygienist, improving the oral health of individuals. 3. Will know the causes of dental diseases and the factors influencing oral health, will understand the interaction between oral health and systemic diseases. 4. Will be able to conduct scientific experimental research to solve various scientific problems of the dental hygienist's professional activity, collecting and interpreting epidemiological data, using the achievements and methods of fundamental and applied scientific research, following the principles of research ethics. 5. Will be able to effectively communicate and collaborate with health care and other professionals and patients, creating a full rapport in solving oral health problems and taking into account emerging needs. 6. Will be able to work in a team, assuming personal and social responsibility for actions and decisions, applies patient-oriented oral care practices. 7. Will be able to create new ideas, adapt to new situations arising in practical activities. 8. Will be able to be honest and respectful with patients, adhere to medical ethics norms, be critical of others and oneself, creative and proactive, realize the importance of lifelong learning. 9. Will be able to independently solve problems, make decisions, evaluate their impact and act in a clinical situation, using practical knowledge. 10. Will be able to collect and systematize information related to the patient's oral care, use modern technologies in the dental hygienist's practice, properly handle confidential information. 11. Will be able to assess the state of personal and oral health and the risk of diseases, recognize changes in oral tissues and make a plan for the application of the expected preventive procedures. 12. Will be able to perform professional oral hygiene procedures, selecting appropriate methods and measures for the prevention of oral diseases, determine the need for consultations with a dentist or dental specialist, write prescriptions for medicinal products, perform application, infiltration and wire anesthesia and provide information on first aid during dental injuries. 13. Will be able to determine the activity of dental caries, recognize congenital and acquired dental anomalies and choose oral care tools and methods, taking into account the activity of the disease, the patient's age and the general state of the body. 14. Will be able to apply special oral hygiene measures and methods to hospitalized patients, taking into account the general condition of the body, to patients with disabilities and systemic diseases. Activities of teaching and learning: Lectures, seminars, case studies, laboratory works, consultations, practical works, simulations, settlements, independent work. Methods of student achievement assessment: Oral and written assessment of knowledge and skills (test, open-ended questions, etc.), assessment and presentation of student presentations, objectified clinical situation, performing various manipulations and under the supervision of the teacher, preparation of practical activity reports, research paper, case analysis, student's independent work (project), exam, thesis defense, final practical exam. Framework: Study subjects (modules), practical training: YEAR 1 Natural Sciences, Human Anatomy, Dental Hygienist’s Professional Health, Psychology of Communication, Lithuanian Language. YEAR 2 Physiology, Oral Health, and Personal Oral Hygiene, Ethics, Ergonomics, Phantom Course in Professional Dental Hygiene. YEAR 3 Professional Dental Hygiene and Clinical Practice, Cariology and Clinical Practice, Periodontology and Clinical Practice, Oral Surgery: pain control, Pharmacology, Radiology, Prevention of Oral Diseases. YEAR 4 Clinical Practice, Paediatric Dentistry, and Clinical Practice, Oral Health Care of Elderly People, Oral Health Care of Orthodontic Patients, Introduction into Prosthetic Dentistry. Specializations: - Optional courses: The student has the opportunity to choose optional study subjects, the topic of the bachelor's final thesis and the places of additional professional practice. Distinctive features of a study programme: Dental hygiene graduates acquire a university education in the only higher education institution in Lithuania that prepares such specialists. The teaching process takes place in specialized departments, using modern diagnostic equipment of LUHS Kauno klinikos hospital, opportunities are created for students to conduct joint biomedical research. Most of the lecturers teaching in the field of study of the Dental Hygiene program are scientists. Integrated studies of the students of the study programs "Dental Hygiene" and "Odontology" are in progress. Small groups in clinical courses. Multicultural environment and student community: international students from 87 different countries make up 25 % of the total student body at LSMU. Possibility to spend a semester or a year abroad with the Erasmus+ or Nordplus (Nordic-Baltic Dental Hygiene-Oral Health) exchange programmes. Support system for student adaptation: mentoring, tutoring, and psychological counselling. Access to professional activity or further study: Access to professional activity: Can practice dental hygiene, work in public or private institutions conducting oral health care or other related areas of oral health care promotion. Can consult patients on issues of oral and dental diseasesꞌ prevention and healthy living preparing prevention programs for improving health maintenance factors. Can work with diagnostic dental equipment, devices, instruments, and materials applying measures of infection control and methods for completing oral care procedures. Access to further study: Can continue education by entering MSc programmes. Later PhD studies.