VTC opens dental training centre for IVE hygienists
On.cc · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The Vocational Training Council has officially opened the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre as the professional training venue for the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education’s Diploma of Vocational Education in Dental Hygiene Care programme. The opening ceremony was held on 23 October, marking what officials described as a new milestone for Hong Kong’s training of dental care personnel and the development of primary oral health services. The first cohort comprises 60 graduates who may formally register as dental hygienists after completing the relevant statutory registration procedures. The government has also linked the centre’s launch to wider efforts to strengthen preventive, community-based dental care in Hong Kong
Key Points
- The 18-month diploma programme uses an Oral Health Care Scheme to provide free oral examinations and consultations for registered members of the public
- Services under the scheme are delivered by students under the guidance of registered dentists and dental care professionals
- Since the scheme was launched at the end of last year, 1,800 people have completed registration and initial screening, with nearly 1,500 already served
- The centre is located at IVE Chai Wan and includes a treatment training centre, a simulation laboratory and a Jockey Club Dental Care Visitor Centre
- The Health Bureau said the government amended the Dentists Registration Ordinance in 2024 to introduce statutory registration for dental hygienists and dental therapists
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the centre adds training capacity and clinical placement opportunities at a time when demand for primary oral health services is rising. It also connects workforce training with free community screening and consultation, potentially widening access to preventive dental care for people with unmet needs.