A dental hygienist provides systematic oral health care specific to their patients needs, including the following:
Examination of the mouth, oral tissues, head, and neck to identify strengths, needs and concerns
Form a dental hygiene diagnosis
Work collaboratively with you to develop goals and plan your individualized oral care health needs
Perform preventive and therapeutic procedures, such as scaling/ periodontal therapy (removing calculus and plaque from your teeth), take x-rays, apply fluoride to help prevent decay, and offer educational support for healthy lifestyle choices in the form of smoking cessation strategies, nutritional guidance and oral cancer screening.
Offer continued evaluation on your progress to achieve personalized optimal oral health
How dental hygienists are educated:
Dental hygienists are educated at four universities and thirty-three colleges across Canada. The dental hygiene curriculum consists of a variety of subject areas including but not limited to microbiology, infection control, anatomy, physiology, nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention.
Most dental hygienists in Canada hold a 2-3-year college diploma. There are many hygienists that have continued with their education and have completed their bachelor and master’s degrees in dental hygiene, dental science, public health and health sciences.
In order to practice in the Province they are practicing in, a dental hygienist must be licensed and registered in that such Provincial Regulatory Authority in Canada, as all Provinces have their own credentials.
If you have any questions about your Dental Hygienist, please ask us at your next cleaning 778 294 1514.