Dental Oral Hygienist
OFO No: 325102
Other name for Dental Hygienist:
- Oral Hygienist
Youtube clip – A look at the career of a Dental Hygienist
For training options in South Africa – scroll down
What is a Dental Hygienist?
A Dental Hygienist or Oral Hygienist (in a nutshell) cleans teeth and gums and promotes general oral health care.
They perform non-invasive dental procedures to prevent cavities and tooth decay.
They usually work alongside or in collaboration with dentists.
What does a Dental Hygienist do?
- consults with patients
- scales teeth to remove plaque, stains and tartar
- polishes teeth
- checks teeth for cavities
- applies fluoride treatments or other preventative solutions to teeth and gums
- inserts temporary fillings
- takes impressions or moulds of patient’s teeth
- informs patients of appropriate methods of cleaning and other preventative measures
- takes X-rays and interprets them
- assists dentists during operations
- keeps patient’s records
Are you . . . ?
- a peoples’ person?
- empathic?
- interested in dentistry?
- gentle?
- thorough and meticulous?
- observant?
- patient
- neat and tidy?
- good with your hands?
- calm?
How do I become a Dental Hygienist?
PATH 1
National Diploma in Oral Hygiene
- University of Limpopo
- University of Pretoria
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of Western Cape
- University of the Witwatersrand
PATH 2
Advanced Diploma in Oral Hygiene
- University of Pretora
- University of Stellenbosch
PATH 3
Bachelor of Oral Hygiene degree
- University of Western Cape
TRAINING:
- CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
- Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
- To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions.
OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Dental Assistant or Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist
Is becoming a Dental Hygienist the right career choice for me?
