Oral health for aging patients with special needs

The aim of the course is for students to acquire knowledge and understanding of how a person's oral health is affected by ageing and in relation to special needs, as well as competence and skills to help groups of patients to maintain or restore good oral health, given specific conditions. Students are expected to adopt a salutogenic and scientific perspective and be open for collaboration with colleagues and other professional groups.

The course comprises two parts. Module I is based on theoretical material, and Module II includes assignments completed in a clinic, preferably the student's workplace. If this is not possible, the course coordinator may be able to help the student find another solution. All teaching foregrounds the scientific basis and evidence-based knowledge of the field.

Module I: introduction, in-depth subject study in oral health for aging patients with special needs
- Gerontology
- The organisation of elderly care
- Dental care benefits for patients with special needs
- The ageing oral cavity
- Geriatric health conditions in relation to oral health
- Disability in relation to oral health
- Odontological levels of ambition
- Odontological care models for patients with special needs
- Health literacy in relation to oral health for patients with special needs

Module II: Analysis and practical application of oral health efforts for aging patients with special needs
- Oral health measures for patients with special needs
- Multiprofessional collaboration in oral health for patients with special needs
- Adapted oral health education for different target groups, and analysis of those groups
- Analysis of clinical examples of patients with special needs in relation to different levels of ambition

Instruction is partly web-based and in the form of lectures, seminars, patient cases, and presentations. Clinical/practical application takes place at the student's workplace in the context of an employment in dentistry, which requires consultation between the student and the employer, and the endorsement of the latter.

Progressive specialisation: A1N (has only first‐cycle course/s as entry requirements)

Education level: Master's level

Admission requirements: Dental hygienist licence issued by the National Board for Health and Welfare and a Bachelor degree of 180 ECTS credits in the main area of study, or a Degree of Master of Science in Dental Surgery, plus upper secondary level Swedish 3 or Swedish as a second language 3 and English 6, or equivalent Field-specific entry requirement: Professional experience as a licensed dental hygienist

Selection:

Selection is usually based on your grade point average from upper secondary school or the number of credit points from previous university studies, or both.