What Do Dental Hygienists Do? Industry Insights

Did you know that 8 in 10 Canadians rate their oral health as good or excellent? These statistics have improved in the last 14 years, especially given the fact that 96% of Canadians had a history of cavities in 2010. Dental hygienists play a key role in safeguarding the oral well-being of folks and limiting the need for dental treatment. So, what do dental hygienists do, and what does it take to become one? We’ll discuss it all in this blog.

If you want to become a dental hygienist, then you should read this blog thoroughly.

Who Are Dental Hygienists? A Comprehensive Overview

Are you interested in a career in dental hygiene? You must first learn the core responsibilities of this oral health profession. What is a dental hygienist? What do dental hygienists do on a daily basis? We’ll answer these questions in detail here.

Definition and Role

A dental hygienist is a licensed oral caregiver who promotes dental health and prevents the onset of dental disease. So, you go to a dentist after your dental health becomes compromised, but a dental hygienist keeps your oral health intact via:

• Conducting Early Evaluations: Hygienists will evaluate your oral health by taking your medical history and examining your teeth & gums thoroughly.
• Providing Preventive Care: Hygienists also provide preventive dental care via different procedures, such as:
  • Teaching oral hygiene techniques
  • Plaque and tartar removal
  • Fluoride treatments
  • Applying sealants
  • Teeth polishing
• Educating Laypeople: Besides conducting dental cleaning procedures, hygienists offer patient oral care education to make sure that laypeople know about the importance of keeping their dental health intact, such as:
  • Dietary recommendations
  • Proper brushing and flossing

Dental hygienists work independently or alongside dentists in various settings such as private practices, hospitals, public health clinics, and educational institutions.

Importance in Dental Care

Hopefully, you now understand what dental hygienists do on a regular basis. Here’s why this role is so important in dental caregiving:

• Hygienists reduce instances of cavities, gum diseases, tooth loss, and other oral health concerns. This preventive comes in handy for complex ailments like dental prophylaxis.
• Hygienists identify early signs of tooth decay and other problems proactively so you can get the necessary dental treatment, e.g., providing clients with oral cancer screening.
• Hygienists empower patients by educating them about oral hygiene practices and how your lifestyle choices impact your dental health, ensuring your long-term oral wellness.
• Hygienists work alongside dentists to develop comprehensive treatment plans tailored to your unique needs. Their insights from patient assessments are invaluable in guiding further dental care decisions.

Key Responsibilities of Dental Hygienists

People often confuse dental hygienists with dental assistants, thinking these two dental health experts have the same job. But both these professions are vastly different from each other.

Let’s summarize the key responsibilities of dental hygienists in three categories:

Preventive Care

Providing preventive dental care means patients can maintain optimal oral health. This care includes the following:

• Professional teeth polishing and cleaning to remove tartar, plaque, stains, blemishes, and other harmful stuff from teeth, preventing cavities and gum disease.
• Giving fluoride treatment to patients to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce the risk of tooth decay among patients.
• Cleaning and stimulating your gums so you don’t fall victim to periodontal diseases.
• Applying sealants to protect the chewing surfaces of your molars from decaying.

Patient Education

Also, patient oral care education reduces dentist visitations because patients know how to take good care of their teeth. This education includes:

• Instructing patients on effective brushing and flossing so they can maintain oral hygiene at home.
• Providing nutritional guidance while discussing how your diet affects oral health.
• Telling patients the telltale signs of oral diseases like dental prophylaxis.

Diagnostic Tasks

Moreover, hygienists also coordinate with dentists to diagnose dental diseases. Their job role also includes the following:

• Conducting initial assessments (e.g., oral cancer screening) by taking vital signs and then documenting a patient’s medical history.
• Taking X-rays to identify lurking dental issues that may not be easily visible during early clinical exams.
• Collaborating with dentists so they can develop comprehensive treatment plans for their clients.

Educational and Licensing Requirements

So, what do dental hygienists do? You know the answer to this question now! In this section, we’ll briefly go over the many requirements of becoming a dental hygienist. Read these details, and you’ll learn how to enter the field of dental hygiene successfully:

Educational Pathways

If you want to become a dental hygienist in Canada, you’ll complete a dental hygiene program that goes from two to three years. Also, you must ask the appropriate governing body in your province/territory whether this program is accredited or not. These programs will teach you all about oral anatomy, pathology, preventive care, holistic care, and other subjects.

Admission requires a high school diploma or equivalent, along with specific prerequisite courses in subjects like biology and English. You may also check out the website of the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association to learn which dental hygienist programs are available there.

Remember to create an impressive dental hygienist resume if you want to land your dream role in this profession. Use this resume to showcase your skills and accomplishments.

Certification and Licensing

After finishing your education, you have to get licensing from regulatory authorities in your province/territory. So, you have to pass a written examination administered by the prestigious Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC).

Each province has its own regulatory body that oversees the certification process, ensuring that hygienists meet the necessary professional standards to practice safely and effectively.

Industry Trends and Insights

In areas like Ontario (especially the city of Toronto), dental hygienists are in demand! Dental clinics in this area often look for temporary dental hygienists, especially during the holiday season. The wages of full-time dental hygienists can go from $31 to $57 per hour even today! So, you can make use of dental hygienist temporary staffing opportunities to land your dream job in Ontario. Find shift openings that match your skills and qualifications.

Let’s discuss the latest trends in this niche.

Technological Advancements

Many different services have recently been integrated into healthcare. For instance, telehealth services, digital imaging, electronic health records (EHRs), and AI-enabled diagnostics are practically transforming the practice of dental hygiene.

These innovations enhance diagnostic capabilities, improve patient record management, and facilitate remote consultations, thereby increasing efficiency and patient engagement.

Employment Outlook

The employment outlook of this profession seems bright & hopeful, too. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) will increase demand for dental services. So, more job openings will emerge in this field. Right now, dental hygienists have an unemployment rate of around 1%. So, if you’re about to join this profession, you can easily advance in your career.

Challenges and Opportunities

Even though the employment landscape in dental hygiene is quite favorable, this vocation also faces many challenges like staffing shortages or burnout among professionals. These shortages are stemming from early retirements and poor job satisfaction scores. Once again, however, we can expect CDCP to alleviate these challenges.

Final Remarks: The Future of Dental Hygiene

So, what does the future have in store for the profession of dental hygiene? We can see that 3 factors will make this profession more advanced in Canada:

• An aging population that increased public awareness of oral health issues
• More individuals retaining their teeth and a higher demand for preventive care
• The introduction of the Canadian Dental Care Plan that’ll expand access to quality oral caregiving

Moreover, technological advancements are changing the way dental hygienists operate. They are adopting digital tools, and telehealth services are enhancing patient care. Also, dental hygienists don’t suffer from unemployment as frequently as other professionals do. They may apply for temp jobs to stay employed as well.

Keep in mind that challenges like staffing shortages in rural areas may create opportunities for hygienists willing to work in underserved communities. In simple words, dental hygiene seems to be a booming profession for youngsters to join in 2025.