Dental Hygienist Requirements
Education
In Canada, there are 3 different ways to become a dental hygienist:
- Complete a 2 or 3-year advanced diploma program from an accredited dental school
- Receive a bachelor of dental hygiene from a university that has a Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada accreditation
- Complete a dental hygiene program from a private college
After you have received your Dental Hygiene Diploma, you will then need to register with the relevant regulatory authority in your province or territory before you can start practicing. After registration, you will need to complete any professional development initiatives required of the province you wish to practice in.
Required Skills
Dental hygienists do more than clean teeth; they assess and chart oral health (including looking for signs of oral cancer), administer local anaesthesia, perform intra-oral radiology, apply dental sealants, administer fluoride, plan oral disease prevention, and more. While much of this will be covered over the course of your degree and subsequent professional development initiatives, you will also need a high level of interpersonal skills. Dental hygienists work with multiple clients every day, some of whom are nervous or fearful of the dentist. Patients may also range in age from small children to senior citizens and have an array of communication and functional skills. It is important for a dental hygienist to be a calm and pleasant professional who can effectively communicate with patients.
Who Should Become A Dental Hygienist?
Becoming a dental hygienist comes with many rewarding aspects of the job. For example, this is a good field for you if you enjoy:
- Steady working hours and options for full-time or part-time employment
- Working with people
- Hands-on work
- Job stability
- Staying organized and focusing on details
- Helping others and keeping them healthy
Visit Marlborough Dental Centre In NE Calgary
Dental hygiene is an exciting and rewarding career path that allows you to complete hands-on work with many different people. If you’re searching for a highly qualified and experienced dental hygienist in Calgary, visit Marlborough Dental Centre. At your next dental exam, speak with our team of friendly dental hygiene professionals. You can chat before or after the dental exam about what their schooling was like and have them explain some of the intricacies of the job or explain what they are doing during the dental exam. If you’re interested in a career as a dental hygienist, schedule a dental exam where you can speak with our staff. Contact Marlborough Dental Centre by calling 1-403-248-2066 or by filling out the online contact form.
FAQ
Q: How much do dental hygienists make?
A: Income varies depending on experience, province/territory, practice, and more, but the general salary for a dental hygienist ranges between $70,000 and $90,000 a year.
Q: Do dental hygiene students have an opportunity to work with patients before becoming certified?
A: Those pursuing a career in dental hygiene will have to complete an internship which can be completed before receiving your certification.
Q: Do dental hygienists conduct x-rays?
A: Yes they do, however dental hygienists conduct x-rays for the dentist to examine and search for any issues. The dental hygienist does not analyze the x-ray.
