Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy

Build a future in modern dental care with a hands-on Dental Hygiene & Dental Therapy degree designed for real clinical practice.

Developed in line with the General Dental Council’s Safe Practitioner Framework, this course combines expert teaching, cutting-edge facilities, and extensive placements to prepare you for registration as both a dental hygienist and dental therapist.

What you'll learn
• Deliver preventive dental care using evidence-based approaches to improve oral health.



• Perform clinical procedures including dental radiography and periodontal treatments.



• Manage complex oral health needs such as oral cancer, dental implants, and special care dentistry.



• Communicate confidently with patients whilst developing leadership and professional skills.



• Practise safely in diverse settings through extensive clinical placements and simulation labs.



From year one, you’ll link science to practice, developing confidence, clinical reasoning, and communication skills whilst delivering safe, person-centred care.

Professional accreditation

*Subject to approval.
On completion of the course, you will be eligible to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) as both a Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist. This registration enables you to practise across a variety of clinical settings and contribute to improving oral health and wellbeing in diverse communities.

Specialist facilities

As a healthcare student, you will have access to our specialist, industry-relevant, simulation facilities. These simulation suites allow you to practise hands-on skills in a fully-equipped, realistic clinical environment.

Future Career

The types of roles you could be expected to go into following graduation include:
- General dental practice, working as part of the wider dental team in NHS, private, or mixed practices


- Community dental services, supporting oral health improvement for children, older adults, and vulnerable patient groups


- Hospital dental services, contributing to specialist and multidisciplinary care


- Public health and health promotion roles, delivering preventive oral health education within communities


- Specialist dental practices, such as periodontology or restorative dentistry (role dependent on experience and setting)


- Education and training roles, including clinical teaching or mentoring (with appropriate experience and further qualifications)


- Research and academic pathways, contributing to evidence-based practice and oral health research


- Dental industry roles, such as clinical advisors, product specialists, or professional educators


- Self-employed or portfolio careers, combining clinical practice with education, research, or leadership responsibilities

University isn't just an education, it's the start of your career. At Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), you'll get to explore a number of exciting career paths, whatever you study.

CCCU is ranked top 5 UK university for employability (Uni Compare Rankings 2026), highlighting its excellent student careers and employability support. The university is home to career-relevant courses and industry-standard facilities. For example, film students can showcase their creativity in the fully equipped film/TV studio, forensics students can test their observational abilities in mock crime scenes, and nursing students can practice their skills in simulated hospital wards.

With a campus in a World Heritage Site, Canterbury is also less than an hour on the train from London and is buzzing with student life. You've got beautiful coast and countryside right on your doorstep, and plenty of opportunities to make friends. With CCCU's range of clubs and societies, including Tennis, Musical Theatre and Dodgeball, you're bound to meet your friends for life.

Click register interest now to secure your place at CCCU this September.