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Specialising in dental hygiene is one of a wide range of dental jobs available. Specialist dental hygienists are an integral part of a dental team. They help to prevent and treat the causes of tooth decay and gum disease, focussing especially on gum health. One of their main roles is to perform scale and polish treatments to remove tartar from the teeth. They also offer advice to patients on how to improve their oral health through changing their diet, not smoking and maintaining good oral hygiene. Many dental hygienists will devise a home care plan for each patient, which is individually tailored to meet the patient’s specific oral health needs. Their other tasks include:

• Taking dental X rays and impressions
• Applying fissure sealants
• Monitoring gum disease and plaque levels
• Replacing crowns with temporary dental cement in emergency cases.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Dental Hygienist?

You need to do a dental course that specialises in dental hygiene and is approved by the General Dental Council (GDC). To become a dental hygienist you need to complete either a Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Therapy or a Bsc in Oral Health Science. Dental Hygienists need to be registered with the GDC before being able to work with patients.

Jobs for Dental Hygienists

There are many jobs in dentistry available for a qualified dental hygienist. They may work in private or NHS practices, hospitals and community dental services. Dental hygienists with lots of industry experience may go on to become practice managers or go into teaching and research. Some dental hygienists also become orthodontic therapists.

Dental Hygienists

Not every practice has full time specialist dental hygienists, but there are many London dentists that do offer a comprehensive dental hygiene service and various others around the UK.