Tell me more about Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygienist-Therapists
Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygienist-Therapists are Dental Care Professionals
(DCP) that once qualified must register with the General Dental Council (GDC) and
have appropriate indemnity insurance cover.
They can then go onto work in all sectors of dentistry; NHS/Independent general
practice, specialist practice, community services, dental access centres, hospital
(clinical staff, tutors/lecturer, and specialist departments e.g. special needs), defence
medical services, education, research and health promotion as well as setting up
their own practices or working aboard.
Both professions have clinical and health promotional responsibilities.
Dental Hygienists:
Clinically
 undertake oral examinations
 help treat and prevent periodontal (gum) disease by performing root surface
debridement, scaling and polishing teeth
 apply antimicrobial materials
 take impressions
 take dental radiographs
 undertake monitoring and screening procedures
 apply topical fluorides and fissure sealants in order to reduce/prevent dental
caries (tooth decay)
 treatments can be performed under local analgesia.
Dental Hygienist-Therapists:
Are permitted to perform all of the duties listed for Dental Hygienist and in addition;
 provide restorations to the teeth of adults and children using all materials
except pre cast or pinned placements.
 undertake emergency temporary replacement of crowns and fillings
 on deciduous (baby or milk) teeth, perform pulp treatments, place preformed
crowns and undertake extractions.
Health promotional duties for both professions include motivating, encouraging and
educating individuals and groups in good oral health practises; including oral hygiene,
dietary and smoking cessation advice.
Personal Requirements
Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygienist-Therapists need to possess the skills to work
within a flexible team approach; have good communication skills, professional
integrity and demonstrate a high level of manual dexterity in order to undertake
complex oral treatments.
After qualification, continuing professional development (CPD) is mandatory in order
to keep skills and knowledge up to date and this is regulated by the General Dental
Council.
Role Expansion
The scope of practice for DCPs is under review by the GDC but currently additional
skills which Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygienist-Therapists could develop during
their careers include:
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training to administer inhalational sedation
prescribing radiographs
carrying out tooth whitening to the prescription of a dentist
removing sutures after the wound has been checked by a dentist
Further information can be obtained from:
British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy www.bsdht.org.uk
British Association of Dental Therapists www.badt.org.uk
General Dental Council www.gdc-uk.org