Career Suggestion

Dental hygienist

Dental hygienists work to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and give customers advice on how to improve their oral health.

Average salary (a year)

£32000.0 to £57000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

37.0 to 40.0

You could work

between 8am and 6pm on a rota

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

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • NHS Learning Support Fund|https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

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.

More Information

Registrations

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 .

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:

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.

With experience and more training, you could:

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