Dental hygienist
Dental hygienists work to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and give patients advice on how to improve their oral health.
Also known as: Oral health practitioner
- Starter salary£32,000 a year
- Experienced£57,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 40 a week
What you'll do
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.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
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
How to become a dental hygienist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
University
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
Work
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.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
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
Registration
- you'll need to register with the General Dental Council
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleDental technician
- Job roleDental therapist
- Job roleDental nurse
- Job roleHealthcare assistant
- Job roleDentist
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0