Are you dental nurse looking to become a dental hygienist?
As a dental nurse, there are a number of different options you could explore to help further your career.
You will need to study a 2-year diploma in dental hygiene or dental hygiene and dental therapy. Alternatively, you can take a three-year undergraduate degree in oral health science or dental therapy and dental hygiene. You may also want to consider a Dental Hygienist apprenticeship, enabling you to focus on current issues in the dental hygiene field.
Responsibilities
The dental hygienist is responsible for assessing and monitoring his or her patient, drawing up a treatment plan, implementing the plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment plan. It goes without saying that excellent communication skills are an essential part of the job.
Day to day duties
On a typical day to day basis dental hygienist perform the following duties:
Demonstrate cleaning techniques
Provide advice about the effects of diet
Scale and polish the teeth
Remove plaque
Take radiographs and impressions
Apply fluoride and fissure sealants
Administer local anaesthetic
Skills of a good dental hygienist
· Excellent communication skills in order to explain treatment plans to the patient
· Care for the wellbeing of patients
· Ability to work in a team
· Sympathetic and understanding
· Able to concentrate for long periods of time
· An interest in science, anatomy and physiology
· Can put patients at ease
· Able to motivate patients to maintain good levels of oral hygiene