A course in dental hygiene opened at the University of Malta after a 20-year lapse and the first four students are graduating in November. Stephanie Fsadni meets two of them to learn more about the profession.

Marlene Desira and Francesca Agius are fulfilling a dream in November: they will be graduating, along with two others, in BSc (Hons) in Dental Hygiene from the University of Malta. No course in dental hygiene was available locally for over 20 years.

The last batch of students to qualify as dental hygienists in Malta was in 1992, when the course was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health.

“We felt the need to run the course again,” says Carmen Caruana, the course coordinator at the Faculty of Dental Surgery.

“In 2011, there were only 14 dental hygientists left working within the government sector and deployed in hospitals and the community. Some had taken parental leave, and so the service was not distributed well.”

Research released in 2010 recommends a ratio of one dental hygienist per population of 2,000 to be able to sustain its oral hygiene and periodontal management effectively.

“Since Malta’s population at the end of 2010 stood at 417, 608, the study suggested that there should be at least a minimum of 70 dental hygienists to cater for our nation’s needs,” points out Caruana. “Therefore there was a big lacuna.”

A programme of studies for BSc (Hons) in Dental Hygiene was thus set up in 2011. Desira and Agius enrolled immediately.

“I have been interested in dental hygiene, but when I entered university in 1990, the course wasn’t offered,” says Desira, who then went on to work as dental assistant and filled other roles within the dental profession.

“Throughout the years I remained interested in the subject, and when I heard that the course was opening again, I grabbed the opportunity.”

Agius had been working as a dental assistant in a private clinic since 1997 before applying for this course.

We provide a comprehensive care plan: a healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy lifestyle

“My job satisfaction was limited and I saw this course as a stepping stone in my career. Now I can build a rapport with the patient and not give clients mere advice but providing them with a health service,” she says.

In the EU and European Economic Area, the profession of dental hygiene is legally recognised in 22 countries. It is an allied profession to dentistry. Dental hygienists work in collaboration with the dental surgeon as part of a team.

“Before we used to say that we need to work under the supervision of dental surgeons. Now we can say that our profession complements that of the dental surgeon,” asserts Caruana.

Dental hygiene aims at the prevention and management of the two most common dental diseases: dental caries and periodontal disease.

The dental hygienist thus provides preventive services and educational information to the public, to practise behaviours that promote better oral health.

“Our role is mainly that of educators and clinicians,” explains Caruana.

“As clinicians, we carry out non-surgical periodontal treatment. We aim at maintaining or restoring the periodontium (the structures surrounding the teeth) to health.”

Thus students learn the skills and techniques used in clinical practice to improve dental hygiene and the periodontal health status of patients.

“As educators, we make sure people become aware that poor oral health can lead to further health problems such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease and so on,” Caruana continues.

Francesca adds that the dental hygienist looks at the patient “holistically”.

“We provide a comprehenseive care plan: a healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy lifestyle.”

The course takes quite a holistic approach too as it includes diverse study units such as head and neck anatomy, occupational health and safety and infection control for allied health professionals, microbiology and immunology, and psychiatry, psychology and sociology, besides the dentistry subjects and the practical aspect.

Dental hygienists also spread their message among the community by visiting schools, parent craft services, the elderly and local councils, and through the media.

Caruana adds that the ultimate goal of dental hygienists is to motivate people to bring about behavioural change.

“For example, we encourage patients to quit smoking and control their diabetes and obesity... nutrition is tied to oral health. I’m proud to say we’ve had quite a few success stories.”

For more information about the course, visit www.um.edu.mt/ds.