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Dental hygienist
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£20,700 + per year
Dental hygienists provide people with advice and information on good oral health. They also provide people with clinical care. They work alongside and under the instruction of dentists to help prevent dental problems.
Good dental hygienists have an interest in the welfare of patients. They need a friendly and sympathetic approach. They also need to have excellent communication skills.
Before you can start in this job you would need to take a General Dental Council approved course.
WorkDesc
The work
As a dental hygienist, you would use a range of dental instruments to:
- remove plaque
- scale and polish teeth to help prevent gum disease
- apply antibacterial agents to reduce decay
- give local anaesthetic under the supervision of a registered dentist
- apply temporary coatings and sealants
- encourage and demonstrate good oral hygiene to individuals and groups.
You would also maintain sterile conditions and occasionally take x-rays. For some procedures, a dental nurse may support you.
You could work in general dental practice, the community dental service and in hospitals.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would usually work between 8.30 am and 5 pm, with occasional evening and weekend duties.
If you were based at a hospital, you could work shifts or be on call. If you worked for the community dental service, your day-to-day work would usually involve travelling between patients and health centres. As a self-employed hygienist, you would often see clients at a number of locations.
Part-time hours and opportunities for self-employment are often available.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries for dental hygienists can be between £20,700 and £26,800 a year.
- With experience this could rise to between £33,500 and £39,300.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Before you can work as a dental hygienist, you would need to take one of the following General Dental Council (GDC) approved courses:
- a foundation degree in oral health science
- a Diploma in Dental Hygiene, or Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy
- a BSc in Oral Health Science or Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene.
See the GDC website for a list of approved courses and providers.
To do a course, you would usually need:
- five GCSEs (A-C), including English and a biological science
- two A levels (preferably in science subjects), or a recognised dental nurse qualification.
Experience as a dental nurse may help you.
Check with individual course providers for exact entry requirements as other qualifications may also be accepted.
You would also need CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) clearance, as you would be working with children and vulnerable adults.
See the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) website for a list of training schools. For course funding information, see the NHS Business Services Authority website.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are on an approved training programme, you will spend time on clinical work placements, and at college or university studying subjects such as:
- prevention of oral disease
- anatomy and physiology
- orthodontics
- diet and nutrition
- oral health promotion
- dental radiography.
When you have completed the diploma or degree, you will need to register with the General Dental Council (GDC). See the GDC website for details.
You will need to keep your skills up to date throughout your career and complete around 150 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) activity during every five years. You can do this in a number of ways, for example by going to conferences, courses, workshops and meetings. See the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) for further details.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a dental hygienist, you should have:
- an interest in the welfare of patients
- a steady hand for delicate work
- the ability to concentrate for long periods of time
- an interest and ability in science, anatomy and physiology
- excellent communication skills to explain treatments
- the ability to motivate clients to improve their dental hygiene
- a friendly and sympathetic approach
- the ability to put anxious patients at ease
- the ability to relate well to a wide range of people, including those with special needs
- good teamwork skills.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line 
Tel: 08000 150850
NHS Careers
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy
3 Kestrel Court
Waterwells Business Park
Waterwells Drive
Quedgley
Gloucester
GL2 2AT
Tel: 0870 234 0752
www.bsdht.org.uk
General Dental Council
37 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8DQ
Tel: 020 7887 3800
www.gdc-uk.org
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You will find most job opportunities in the NHS and independent general dental practices.
You could also work for the community dental service, specialist periodontal practices, orthodontic practices, dental schools, the Armed Forces and hospital education.
Although there is no formal structure for career progression, with experience you may be able to move into dental practice management or teaching student dental hygienists.
Another option is to move into a related area such as orthodontic therapy or health promotion.
Jobs may be advertised in the local and national press, and on the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) and NHS Jobs websites.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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