School of Health Sciences

Diploma in Community Oral Health (Dental Therapy)

INTRODUCTION

Diseases conditions that affect oral tissues include; Dental caries, periodontal diseases, cysts and neoplasms. Most of them start painlessly in the initial stages and later progress to more serious and devastating stages and could result to death. Most of the them could be reduced if the public was properly educated on how to effect
preventive measures. Training in Oral health was planned with the objective of preparing officers who would promote primary oral health care among the various communities. The officers should be equipped with scientific, social, psychological and socio-economic knowledge. They should be able to educate the public on the use of preventive measures which are based on practically, scientifically and socially acceptable methods which are easily obtained and maintained by the public.
Oral health officer should be capable of diagnosing oral diseases and manage emergency cases before referring them for treatment to the relevant specialists.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The goals of the programme are:
(a) To increase coverage of promotive and preventive services to the majority of the
population and
(b) To prevent any increase in dental diseases.

In order to achieve the above, the programmes’ objectives are to enable the oral health officers
to:
(a) Do a community diagnosis especially of oral health in areas they are working.
(b) Develop and carry out health education to the community.
(c) Co-ordinate with other stake holders in taking care of the community’s oral health needs.
(d) Formulate and implement health care programmes in the area they are working.
(e) Provide curative and rehabilitative oral care.

Application Qualifications

The candidate for the course must meet the following requirements for admission.

i) An average grade C (plain) or above.
ii) Grade C (Plain) or credit in English and Biology or Biological Sciences.
iii) C- (minus) or credit in any two of the following: Chemistry, Physics or Physical
Sciences, Mathematics or General Sciences.
iv) Must have sound vision and hearing and adequate manual and pedal dexterity.
NB: These entry requirements will be reviewed from time to time and candidates notified accordingly.

Entry vide University bridging

A holder of KCSE certificate or equivalent with a minimum of C (Plain) lacking cluster
combination. The candidate must pass in the subject requiring bridging.

THE MAIN SYLLABUS