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Dental hygienist

Dental hygienists are an important part of the dental team, preventing dental problems in adults and children.

Working life

You'll help children and adults look after their teeth and gums. Sometimes you might be working on a one-to-one basis while on occasion you'll work with groups of people. 

dental-tool

You'll carry out procedures such as:

  • scaling teeth (at times under local anaesthetic)
  • polishing teeth
  • applying topical fluoride and fissure sealants

You are likely to work in general dental practices but there are job opportunities in hospitals and community dental services . 

Your work as a dental hygienist will save teeth by preventing and treating gum disease, helping people get rid of associated problems like bad breath. The dentist will usually advise you and help direct your work, although it's now possible for hygienists and therapists who have extra training to set up their own practices or work independently in a dental practice so they can see patients without them seeing a dentist first.

In the community, you could work with people with a wide range of special or additional needs. If you are based in a hospital, you will help patients who may have had major surgery or complicated orthodontic treatment or have particular medical conditions. The hospital patients you see may be very ill, apprehensive or unsure after life-changing surgery.

Entry requirements, skills and interests

You'll need five GCSE subjects graded 4-7 or A-C, plus two or three A levels (depending on the university) or a recognised dental nursing qualification to get on to a dental hygiene course. Good people and communication skills are very important and as you might work in different settings, you'll need to enjoy a job with plenty of variety.

Training

To practise as a dental hygienist, you need to take a course approved by the General Dental Council (GDC) [1] and then need to register with the GDC.

Subjects studied include:

  • anatomy and physiology [2]
  • preventive dentistry
  • dental health education
  • dental pathology
  • the management and care of patients

Several dental schools offer courses combining dental hygiene and dental therapy.

Career development 

With experience, you can progress to become a practice manager, train other dental hygienists or develop further skills such as sedation or tooth whitening. You could also work as an orthodontic therapist.

Pay and benefits 

Dental hygienists may be self-employed or employed directly by a dental practice so your working hours and pay will vary but some evening or weekend work may be required.

If you work for the the NHS in a hospital or community clinic, your starting salary might be at bands 5 or 6 of the Agenda for Change [3] pay scale. You'll typically work 37.5 hours a week.

  • Find your course to become a dental hygienist
    Displaying 1 - 5 of 21 matches

    BSc (Hons) Oral Health

    London, Queen Mary, University of London (Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry)

    View course Opens in a new window
    [4]

    Region
    London

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    e.c.philogene@qmul.ac.uk [5] 020 7882 8157

    Course webpage
    https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/coursefinder/courses/2020/oral-health/ [4]

    Admissions address

    2 Newark Street
    Whitechapel
    London
    E1 2AT

    Course webpage
    https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/coursefinder/courses/2020/oral-health/ [4]

    BSc Oral Health Sciences

    Edinburgh, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [6]

    Region
    Scotland

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    4 years

    Contact details
    oralug@ed.ac.uk [7] 0131 242 6407

    Course webpage
    http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php [8]

    Admissions address

    The Chancellor’s Building, 2nd Floor
    49 Little France Crescent
    Edinburgh
    EH16 4SB

    Course webpage
    http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php [8]

    BSc Oral Health Science

    Glasgow Caledonian University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [9]

    Region
    Scotland

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    studentenquiries@gcu.ac.uk [10] 0141 331 8630

    Course webpage
    http://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/details/index.php/P02679 [9]

    Admissions address

    Cowcaddens Road
    Glasgow
    G4 0BA

    Course webpage
    http://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/details/index.php/P02679 [9]

    BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy

    Teesside University

    View course Opens in a new window
    [11]

    Region
    North East

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    shlsadmissions@tees.ac.uk [12] 01642 384110

    Course webpage
    http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm [13]

    Admissions address

    Centuria Building
    Middlesbrough
    Tees Valley
    TS1 3BA

    Course webpage
    http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm [13]

    BSc (Hons) Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy

    Leeds, University of

    View course Opens in a new window
    [14]

    Region
    Yorkshire and The Humber

    Type of course
    Undergraduate

    Full or part time
    Full time

    Duration
    3 years

    Contact details
    denadmissions@leeds.ac.uk [15] 0113 343 9922

    Course webpage
    https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/i125/dental-hygiene-and-dental-therapy-bsc [14]

    Admissions address

    Clarenden Way
    Leeds
    LS2 9LU

    Course webpage
    https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/i125/dental-hygiene-and-dental-therapy-bsc [14]

    • Load more [16]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Dental nurse [17]
  • Dental support worker [18]
  • Dentist [19]
  • Dental technician/dental technologist [20]

Source URL: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-hygienist

Links
[1] http://www.gdc-uk.org/Pages/default.aspx
[2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Physiology
[3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/working-health/working-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates
[4] https://www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/coursefinder/courses/2020/oral-health/
[5] mailto: e.c.philogene@qmul.ac.uk
[6] http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php?action=programme&code=A900
[7] mailto: oralug@ed.ac.uk
[8] http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/degrees/index.php?action=programme&code=A900
[9] http://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/details/index.php/P02679
[10] mailto: studentenquiries@gcu.ac.uk
[11] http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm?courseid=593&fos=9&fossub=25
[12] mailto: shlsadmissions@tees.ac.uk
[13] http://www.tees.ac.uk/prospectus/ug/UG_course.cfm?courseid=593&fos=9&fossub=25
[14] https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/i125/dental-hygiene-and-dental-therapy-bsc
[15] mailto: denadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
[16] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/print/72?page=1
[17] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-nurse
[18] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/Explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/clinical-support-staff/dental-support-worker
[19] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dentist
[20] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dental-techniciandental-technologist