Health screening

As a condition of your offer, you have been initially passed as 'medically suitable' to start the Dentistry (BDS) or Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSc) course.

Part II of the health screening involves clearance for Exposure Prone Procedures (EPP - blood testing to confirm non-infectivity for the hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV viruses), checking your immunity status for a number of other diseases, such as tuberculosis, measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox, and, in most cases, commencement of the immunisation process against hepatitis B.

When you have completed Part II of the health screening, you will be issued with a Certificate for Clinical Placement. This is a very important document and you will need to complete this whole process before you will be allowed to treat patients.

We allow enough time for this process to be completed in the first year of the course. Any delays will result in you not being allowed on the clinics to treat patients.

How do I get my Certificate for Clinical Placement?

During Semester 1, you will have an appointment with the Student Occupational Health (SOH) Department arranged for you and this is scheduled in your timetable. Please note that only the first appointment shows on your timetable.

It is essential that you attend this appointment as, in most cases, this is when you will receive your first Hep B immunisation injection and have your EPP blood test. Completion of the Hep B immunisation takes 2-3 months, plus a blood test six weeks after the third injection to check your level of antibodies.

After this first appointment, it is your responsibility to book and attend your subsequent appointments. You must check your timetable first to make sure you do not miss any timetabled sessions.

All students are expected to have been issued with their Certificate for Clinical Placement by the end of Year 1.

What happens if I do not get my Certificate for Clinical Placement?

You will not be permitted to attend on clinical placement.