Dental hygienists help patients maintain good oral hygiene, by scaling and polishing teeth, applying topical treatments and extractions, and offering advice to help prevent dental problems.
Employment as a dental hygienist requires qualifications which have been approved by the General Dental Council (GDC). Courses providing these generally last for around two years full time, and subjects within them include anatomy, preventative dentistry, dental pathology, management and care of patients and other relevant topics. There are also suitable degree courses, such as the BSc Oral Health Science, available at some universities.
As well as being skilled in dental hygiene, these practitioners should also be good communicators as they have to be able to explain treatments and the reasons behind them. They should also be well organised and smart.
The biggest employer of dental hygienists in the UK is the NHS, however there are many private dental practices which offer extremely good rates of pay and benefits. Recruitment agencies may be involved with supplying staff for both public and private practices and registering with them can be a worthwhile experience, especially if candidates have prior experience as a dental nurse.
Salaries for dental hygienists range between £13,500 p.a. and as much as £67,500 where practice management or other management responsibilities are taken on in addition to the dental role.