Students' Stories
Jenny Wong
2022-2024 Higher Diploma in Dental Hygiene
As a recent graduate of the Dental Hygiene Programme, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible journey I have experienced. Before enrolling, I worked as a dental surgery assistant, where I encountered many patients suffering from periodontal disease. This exposure ignited my passion for oral health and solidified my desire to advance my career in this field.
The programme provided an abundance of practical training opportunities, seamlessly integrating theory with hands-on experience. The comprehensive curriculum not only equipped me with the technical skills necessary to perform as a qualified dental hygienist but also emphasized the importance of patient education. I learned that my role extends beyond cleaning teeth; it involves motivating patients to maintain their oral health and prevent dental issues.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this programme was the dedication of our tutors. Their enthusiasm for teaching was evident in every lecture and practical session. They generously shared their knowledge and experiences, making complex concepts accessible and engaging. Additionally, guest speakers, including experienced dentists, enriched our learning by providing insights into real-world practices and patient care.
Completing this programme has been a transformative experience, enabling me to become a professional dental hygienist and share vital oral hygiene knowledge with the community. This journey has strengthened my confidence and instilled a deep sense of purpose, and I look forward to making a difference in people’s lives through my work.
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Mandy Kong Man
2020-2022 Higher Diploma in Dental Hygiene
Before studying the Dental Hygiene Programme, I was a dental surgery assistant. Although I have some basic dental knowledge from my previous work experience, it was an entirely different experience from a chairside assistant to be an operator. The programme comprehensively trained my ability to become a qualified dental hygienist.
The clinical training was way more comprehensive than just cleaning the teeth. Motivating patients to perform good oral hygiene daily is an essential routine. It also allowed me to have more opportunities to communicate with different types of patients, such as, patients with special needs/ mental health problems. Although it was challenging for me, it built up my patience in treating patients. And I really get satisfaction when I know patients who have improved their oral health status.
Other than attending classroom seminars/ lectures, the problem-based learning module requires critical thinking and analytical skills which also helps me to gain motivation in learning. It also gives me a deeper understanding of the content of knowledge that I can immediately apply to treat patients with different oral and medical conditions.
The tutor and instructors from the programme are knowledgeable and passionate about teaching. I am so grateful for all the support and guidance given by them. It has been an incredible learning journey and the skills I gained in this programme have made me become a better and a more confident professional in the workplace.
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Pauline Wong Po Ling
2019-2021 Higher Diploma in Dental Hygiene
Being one of the clinical patients for more than ten years in the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, I am very used to sitting in the dental chair. Yet, it’s a completely different experience sitting behind it as a dental hygienist. It was not as easy as it seems, with the responsibility of maintaining the periodontal health of patients, it’s essential to acquire relevant knowledge and apply it clinically. The most challenging condition was that some oral conditions of the patients were beyond or ahead of the theoretical syllabus, which means that I might need to study in advance under the supervision of tutors and instructors in order to manage the oral health of my current patients. I think this is one of the very important qualities to study dentistry or to be a dental hygienist, to be responsible to the patients by learning actively and continuously.
Bounded by the scope of dental hygienists, I always require prescription and help from the dentists to treat the patients comprehensively, so I am very pleased that the dental hygiene program provides me with the opportunity to learn dental knowledge from different aspects to understand how a hygienist could maximize his or her role to cooperate with the dental team and to optimize the dental health of patients.
Finally, I would like to give my greatest gratitude to all the teaching staff under the dental hygiene programme. Without their help, I could not meet the standard of a qualified registered dental hygienist.
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Sharon Chui
2018-2020 Graduate of Higher Diploma in Dental Hygiene
I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy when I finally graduated with a qualification of High Diploma in Dental Hygiene.
Before I joined this programme, I’d always been inspired to become a healthcare professional. It was not until I realised dental health plays an important and indispensable role in our well-being did I decide to apply for this programme.
In the grand scheme of things, this programme not only provided useful textbook knowledge about dental health, but also hands-on clinical sessions that took a holistic approach to treating patients.
The teachers of the programme were extremely kind, helpful and knowledgeable. They brought a lot of experience and skills to the table. I was pleased and grateful for their help and support. I was also glad that I met some friendly peers who were truly my staunch friends and allies during my study journey.
Now that I’m a qualified dental hygienist, my experience and skills have been honed to the next level. The skill set I acquired over the past few years allows my patients to get the most out of my dental service.
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SO CHUN YAN, Soso
Graduate of Higher Diploma in Dental Hygiene (2017-19)
I started my career in dentistry as a dental surgery assistant before being enroled into the Dental Hygiene programme. It is indeed my luck and pleasure to have the opportunity to further my study in the dental field. I still remember how excited I was on the day I received the offer.
HKU SPACE Community College, with the support of the Faculty of Dentistry of HKU, provided a qualified and complementary course. Throughout these two years, my life has been significantly enriched and enlightened. The instructors were very knowledgeable, approachable and caring, and they taught from a problem-based approach, which enabled us to gain in-depth understanding of the topics and develop advanced reasoning skills. I am certain that the clinical experience and guidance acquired in the programme will lead me to a successful and rewarding career.
Dental Hygienist is a career more than earning a living. It is interesting because we perform a wide variety of tasks to prevent oral diseases and promote oral health. In addition to enhancing one’s quality of life, it is a wonderful adventure to communicate with different people from all walks of life.
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Chan Man Yee Cara
Graduate of Higher Diploma in Dental Hygiene in 2016
Time flies. I have successfully completed this intense and challenging training programme. Being a student of dental hygiene is totally different from a secondary school student. There is no choice but to comply with the instructions during the clinical training sessions. However, it is full of great satisfaction and an unforgettable memory in my entire life. Clinical training is an integrated part of the whole programme. I have to practise clinical skills and apply dental knowledge when treating patients. Besides the clinical treatment, I found that persuading patients from changing their habit and attitude is the most challenging mission. Nevertheless, when I observed a positive change from a patient, I am very delighted with my efforts. In addition, to searching for information and having group discussions are the major ways to acquire knowledge in this problem-based learning (PBL) atmosphere. Compared with the traditional learning, PBL is more inspirational and easier to understand theories and practices. Besides, generic skills courses provide a balanced development for my study and I learned cooperate with team members and it greatly improved my communication skills. Last but not least, what I have learnt in this course is not only the dental knowledge but also working and interacting with different people. This course provides a great foundation for my future career and I am grateful to be one of the graduates in dental hygiene.
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