Dental hygienist as a career
Dental hygienists are commonly known as oral health practitioners; they have an extremely important role within the dental healthcare team and are responsible for promoting good oral health and providing preventive treatments. Most dental hygienists work in dental practices but some also work in the community or in local hospitals.
The main aim of a dental hygienist’s dental job is to prevent dental problems from arising; this is commonly known as preventive dentistry. Treatments and procedures carried out by dental hygienists include scaling and polishing, applying fissure sealant to the surfaces of the teeth and applying fluoride to the teeth. These treatments help to strengthen and protect the enamel surfaces of the teeth, like a root canal, which will make them more resistant to decay. Dental hygienists that work in a hospital setting may also assist with patients that are having more complex dental and orthodontic treatments. Many patients visit their dental hygienist to have a thorough clean, also known as a scale and polish; this removes all traces of plaque, tartar and bacteria from the mouth and leaves the patient’s mouth feeling fresh and clean.
In order to become a dental hygienist, you must complete a course that is approved by the General Dental Council; most courses last two years and students are required to have good GCSE results and a minimum of two A levels. Once you have completed the course, you can register with the General Dental Council, which will allow you to practise, in the heart of the UK with London dentists if you wish but you would likely need to relocate.