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Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists use preventive, educational and therapeutic methods for controlling oral diseases to help individual patients and groups achieve and maintain oral health.

Dental hygienists may work in a team with other dental practitioners.

TASKS

Dental hygienists may perform the following tasks:

assess and record oral health conditions and plan treatments
educate, counsel and provide instruction for people of all ages, as well as other healthcare professionals, on oral health and hygiene, plaque control and nutrition
renove deposits and stains from teeth by scaling, root debridement and tooth polishing
identify and apply prevention strategies and control mechanisms for dental caries (decay) and periodontal (gum) disease
select and use appropriate fluoride treatments, and polish tooth restorations
apply professional tooth whitening agents
place temporary dental restorations
expose, process and interpret dental X-rays
take impressions of patients' mouths for the construction of study casts, mouthguards and orthodontic appliances
carry out orthodontic procedures that do not initiate tooth movement (such as band sizing and selection or bonding of fixed retainers)
apply and remove periodontal dressings and rubber dams
stabilise teeth affected by gum disease
select and administer pain control techniques, including local anaesthesia
renove dental sutures (stitches)
instruct patients on looking after their teeth and mouth after operations

PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

good hand-eye coordination
able to perform precise and detailed work
good problem-solving skills
good communication skills
interest in healthcare work
able to work as part of a team

Interest Area

EDUCATION & TRAINING

To become a dental hygienist you usually have to complete a VOC qualification in oral health (dental hygiene) or a degree in oral health or oral health therapy approved by the Dental Board of Australia. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics are normally required. Applicants may also be required to attend an interview. A number of institutions in Australia offer these courses. Institutions have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

Additional Information

Before undertaking clinical placements required by courses, students will need to obtain a Provide First Aid Certificate, a National Police Certificate, a Working with Children Check (NSW) or Working with Vulnerable People Check (ACT), and fulfil immunisation requirements. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.

It is a legal requirement for graduates to be registered with the Dental Board of Australia before practising as a dental hygienist in any state or territory in Australia. For full details, see the board's website.

The Dental Hygienists' Association of Australia is a professional association that represents dental hygienists at a national level. Visit their website for more information.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Dental hygienists mainly work with other dental professionals in private dental practices. There are some opportunities in community health centres, schools, childcare centres, aged-care facilities, dental hospitals, regional clinics and supported residential facilities.

There are limited training places available and competition is strong.