Oral health

Why study oral health?

Oral health therapists provide oral health care including the prevention and treatment of dental decay and gum diseases. They work closely with other dental professionals including dentists and dental specialists and are highly skilled in oral health promotion. Our course has a strong focus on oral health care services in rural and regional areas and you will do a practical placement in rural Victoria. Study basic sciences and public health and start preclinical dentistry in your first semester in our state-of-the-art clinical simulation laboratory.

Career opportunities

La Trobe designs its courses with your future career in mind and partners with a range of professional organisations for accreditation and registration. Refer to the detail for each course below to see what professional registration and membership options exist. There is currently high demand for graduates to work in many different settings and employment opportunities exist in private dental practice, community health centres, hospitals, aboriginal health collectives, academia, health promotion, not-for-profit and health organisations, specialist dental practices and health management.

Your study experience

Oral health placements

Clinical placements form an important part of our program and take place primarily in Bendigo at our new 20-chair clinical facility at the Anne Caudle campus. You may do other placements in third year across a wide range of locations including special needs areas, nursing homes, schools and community health centres and internationally.

Overseas study opportunities

You may be eligible for our student exchange program.