Introduction

 

Dental Hygiene has been recognized and practiced as a profession for over fifty years. Dental Hygienists work with clients/patients and can treat patients independent of the dentist (with certain restrictions).

Dental Hygiene is a dynamic and challenging health care profession allowing a wide range of practice environments: from general dental practice, specialty offices, independent dental hygiene clinics, public health, education or research.

 

Dental Hygienists perform many services for patients. These include scaling and root planing (cleaning teeth), educating patients on oral hygiene, as well as sealants on teeth, and even whitening teeth. Further upgrading programs can allow even further duties and responsibilities.

 

Dental Hygiene is a well-respected profession with many opportunities. The wages will vary throughout the country. According to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA) 2009 Labour Survey the average wage was $36.47/hr. Once graduates register with the College of Dental Hygienist of Ontario (CDHO), their skills in this field are well remunerated.

 

The College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO) is the regulatory body for Dental Hygiene in the Province of Ontario. In order to practice Dental Hygiene in the Province of Ontario, a person must be registered with the CDHO.

 

The practice of Dental Hygiene is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and theDental Hygiene Act, 1991.

 

This program is Approved as a vocational program under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005

Career Opportunities

 

Dental Hygienists have an extremely high rate of employment and/or self- employment opportunities with an average earning of $36.47 per hour. The Dental Hygiene profession has been known to be desirable due to flexible hours and the many part-time and full-time career opportunities available.

 

These post-graduation career opportunities
are numerous and include:

 

• General dental office and/or clinic
• Specialty dental office and/or clinic
  ( i.e. Periodontics, Orthodontics)
• Independent Dental Hygiene clinics
• Pedodontics and Prosthodontics.
• Dental hygiene office and/or clinic
• Community health settings
• Public health Departments
• Research
• Educational Institutions
• Sales and Marketing
• Administration
• Private Consulting