About the Course

Offered with support from the Health Promotion Board, the National University Centre for Oral Health, the Singapore Dental Association and government polyclinics, this course teaches core skills in operative and preventive dentistry, dental hygiene, oral-health promotion and clinic management. Learn to perform procedures like polishing, scaling, root planing, fillings and extraction of milk teeth. Plus, gain hands-on experience in specialised simulation laboratories and during clinical attachments.

What You'll Study

  • Career Prospects


    As an oral health therapist, you can practise in areas such as:

    • school dental service at the Health Promotion Board, in school dental clinics or at mobile dental clinics
    • private dental practices or dental institutions
    • oral health promotion
    • clinical audit
    • other dental-related industries (marketing, sales & training)

    Our graduates are always in demand. Look forward to an exciting career as an oral health therapist in Singapore and aboard, and expect an attractive and competitive pay with opportunities for further career progression.

  • Further Studies

    You may opt to pursue the Bachelor of Oral Health in reputable overseas universities which are recognised by the Singapore Dental Council.  These include:

    Australia

     Curtin University

     University of Sydney

     University of Queensland

     University of Adelaide

     University of Melbourne

     University of Newcastle

    New Zealand

     Auckland University of Technology

     University of Otago

    Admission and credit exemptions are decided by the respective Universities.

    Eligible graduates from 2022 onwards may apply to NUS Dentistry and Medicine. Admission is subjected to NUS entry requirements and highly competitive.

Why we love OHT – stories told by graduates

  • Lee Chun Hwee, Glenn
  • Diploma in Oral Health Therapy, Class of 2013
  • Completed his Master of Public Health, NUS, in 2021 under Health Promotion Board In-Service Sponsorship
  • Current Occupation: Higher Dental Therapist in HPB

To me, the OHT profession is a very meaningful profession as I get to contribute to the smiles of my patients. In the words of Phyllis Diller, “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”  I believe in the importance of a smile, and by providing treatment to ensure that my clients have clean and healthy teeth, and educating them on oral health and hygiene, I help to keep their bright smiles

  • Janelle Joy Foo Yan Ming 
  • Diploma in Oral Health Therapy, Class of 2013
  • Completed her Bachelor degree at SUSS in 2018 under Health Promotion Board Sponsorship
  • Current Occupation: Oral Health Therapist & Adjunct Lecturer at NYP
  • Past President of the Association for Oral Health Therapists (Singapore) & Nominated Council Member of Singapore Dental Council

As an OHT, we see children below 18 years of age. For me, I love children in general and it brings me great fulfilment knowing that I have the ability to help them overcome their dental anxieties at a young age. This brings great satisfaction, not just to me, but also to the children and their parents as the children develop the confidence to go for their dental visits and understand the importance of good oral hygiene from young.  Knowing that I can spark a positive change in the clients I see, including my family and loved ones, it spurs me on to continue the good work I have begun.

Working as an OHT for the past 8 years have given me numerous opportunities to grow and develop professionally.   There is a great demand for primary dental care in our community. As a professional OHT, you will be trained to work as a team in the dental setting – be it in a private practice or public institution.  What is significant is that in whatever setting you are working in, you know you are contributing and giving back to the community at large.

  • Joyce Yap Hui Ci
  • Diploma in Oral Health Therapy, Class of 2017
  • Completed degree & full time lecturer at NYP

I have always wanted to work in a healthcare setting and fell in love with Oral Health Therapy from my first day of school. It is an exciting job as I face new challenges every day at work whenever I look inside a different mouth every 30 minutes. When a patient comes to me for a scaling appointment, it is not just a simple routine procedure of cleaning, but also an opportunity to help them with their oral health by understanding their dietary habits and oral hygiene habits. The mouth is the window to the body, and as an OHT, I am best suited to educate and provide advice on how they can take care of their oral health so that it will not negatively affect their general health.