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Dental hygienists offer advice, information and treatments to prevent and treat tooth decay and gum disease.
You could work: evenings / weekends; on a rota
You'll work with children and adults, one to one and sometimes groups, advising on how to take good care of their teeth and gums. You'll also use instruments to do dental treatments.
On a daily basis you could:
You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.
You could work at a dental practice, in an NHS or private hospital or at a health centre.
You can get into this job through:
You could do either:
Experience as a dental nurse may be useful. A recognised dental nurse qualification can sometimes take the place of an A level for course entry.
You'll usually need:
Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:
To do the oral health practitioner apprenticeship you must already be a dental nurse or other appropriate dental care professional, registered with the General Dental Council.
Employers will set their own entry requirements.
You'll need to:
With experience, you could specialise in dealing with particular groups like people with additional needs, or move into dental practice management.
With further training you could teach student dental hygienists.
You could also move into a related area like orthodontic therapy or health promotion.
You could serve in the Royal Navy as a dental hygienist. You can apply while you are still at university but have to be registered with the General Dental Council before you can start basic training.