Dental hygienist
Dental hygienists work to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and give customers advice on how to improve their oral health.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a dental hygienist, you could:
- clean and polish teeth to help prevent cavities and gum disease
- apply dental sealants to protect against tooth decay
- demonstrate tooth brushing and flossing techniques
- refer clients to a dentist should further treatment be needed
- promote good oral healthcare to children and adults
- update and maintain patient records
Working environment
You could work at a dental practice, in an NHS or private hospital or at a health centre.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience and more training, you could:
- specialise in a particular area, like children's teeth
- become a manager of a dental practice
- teach dental hygienist students
- move into a related job, such as a dental therapist or health promotion specialist
- become a dental hygienist in the Royal Navy, if you're already registered with the General Dental Council
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- knowledge of medicine and dentistry
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills
- sensitivity and understanding
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to work well with your hands
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
You'll need to complete a higher education diploma or degree approved by the General Dental Council.
Subjects include:
- dental hygiene
- oral health science
- dental hygiene and dental therapy
When you apply for a university course, it might help to have some experience in a dental or healthcare setting, for example, shadowing a dental nurse or dental hygienist.
You might be able to get extra support with student finance, as a dental student, through the NHS Learning Support Fund.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
More Information
If you're a qualified dental nurse, you may be able to do a part-time training course with a dental school to become a dental hygienist.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Dental Council
Further information
You can get more details about a career as a dental hygienist and other roles in a dental team from Health Careers and the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.