Dental Hygienist

Typical Salary

£24,907 To £37,890

Typical Hours

37 to 38 a week

evenings / weekends on a rota

How To Become a Dental Hygienist

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You could do either:

a 2-year foundation degree in oral health science
a 2-year diploma of higher education in dental hygiene, or dental hygiene and dental therapy
a 3-year degree in oral health science, or dental therapy and dental hygiene

1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

Level 3 Dental nurse (integrated)
Level 4 Oral health practitioner

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

customer service skills
knowledge of medicine and dentistry
excellent verbal communication skills
sensitivity and understanding
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
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 carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

You'll work with children and adults, one to one and sometimes groups, advising on how to take good care of their teeth and gums. You'll also use instruments to do dental treatments.

On a daily basis you could:

remove plaque
clean and polish teeth to help prevent gum disease
apply fluoride and sealant treatments to reduce decay
give local anaesthetic under the supervision of a dentist
apply temporary coatings and sealants to protect teeth
encourage and demonstrate tooth brushing and flossing
sterilise equipment
check 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 and a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could specialise in dealing with particular groups like people with additional needs, or move into dental practice management.

With further training you could teach student dental hygienists.

You could also move into a related area like orthodontic therapy or health promotion.

You could serve in the Royal Navy as a dental hygienist. You can apply while you are still at university but have to be registered with the General Dental Council before you can start basic training.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need to register with the General Dental Council

Further information

You can find out more about dental hygiene careers from the British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults