Department of Dental Hygiene
Since 1962, when our Department of Dental Hygiene was founded, we have been committed to maintaining the very highest standards of excellence in the areas of training and education, in patient care and in the promotion of public health.
And we can be proud of the fact that our graduating dental nurses maintain these high standards throughout their careers. More than 7000 graduates from our Department (including those who graduated from the preceding ‘Department of Health Care’, as well as present alumni) are celebrating over forty years of dedicated service to the community.
2007 sees an important development in our educational program. For the first time our two-year course will be expanded to a three-year full-time course, which will greatly enhance students’ acquisition of high-level special skills and knowledge. This change is in line with recent government policy designed to improve standards throughout Japan. In 2006, over 35% of dental hygiene schools changed from a two-year to a three-year course.
It is expected that by 2010, all dental hygiene schools and institutions will have adopted three years as the standard length for undergraduate study. The work of a dental nurse demands a high level of responsibility and requires in-depth training in dental health education and communication skills. In the study program at Tsurumi, students can be assured of acquiring both thorough academic training and genuine practical experience. Students are also subject to continuous assessment in order to ensure successful and satisfactory progress.
In regard to opportunities for practical experience, the University Dental is an invaluable institution and is located right on campus. Students will visit the Hospital in order to observe ,and take part in, a variety of clinical dental procedures. As for the academic side, Tsurumi can boast a staff of highly professional teachers in the Department of Oral and Dental Sciences providing lectures, hands-on training and support for the student.
At our University, graduating students have very good employment prospects,too. More than 800 cases of positional offers are requested. In other words: one student is likely to receive four offers of position from a prospective employer.
The key aims of the department of Dental hygiene are to produce dental nurses who are able to assist dentists and to work well in teams.
In recent years, we have invested a great deal in order to improve student teaching facilities and accommodation. For example, we have completely revised the workstation for ‘basics training’ and introduced a new state-of-the-art multimedia educational system. ‘E-multimedia is the latest educational tool, comprising a series of liquid-crystal projectors and television monitors for teaching, designed to‘upgrade`, but also maintain, the high standards of education we have always prized.
As the largest provider of dental-nursing education in Japan, our teaching and dedication to learning creates an excellent environment in which students benefit from thorough academic as well as extensive practical training. Recently, many students also become involved in the research aspect to nursing, and many have achieved a good reputation.
