Dental hygienist

Alternative titles for this job include Oral health practitioner

Dental hygienists work to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, and give customers advice on how to improve their oral health.

Average salary (a year)

£28,000 Starter

to

£43,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

between 8am and 6pm on a rota

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Dental hygienist

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• working towards this role

University

You'll need to complete a higher education diploma or degree approved by the General Dental Council. 

Subjects include:

• dental hygiene
• oral health science
• dental hygiene and dental therapy

When you apply for a university course, it might help to have some experience in a dental or healthcare setting, for example, shadowing a dental nurse or dental hygienist.

You might be able to get extra support with student finance, as a dental student, through the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• NHS Learning Support Fund
• university courses and entry requirements

Work

If you're a qualified dental nurse, you may be able to do a part-time training course with a dental school to become a dental hygienist.

More Information

Registration

• you'll need to register with the General Dental Council

Further information

You can get more details about a career as a dental hygienist and other roles in a dental team from Health Careers and the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• customer service skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work well with your hands
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a dental hygienist, you could:

• clean and polish teeth to help prevent cavities and gum disease
• apply dental sealants to protect against tooth decay
• demonstrate tooth brushing and flossing techniques
• refer clients to a dentist should further treatment be needed
• promote good oral healthcare to children and adults
• update and maintain patient records

Working environment

You could work at a dental practice, in an NHS or private hospital or at a health centre.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience and more training, you could:

• specialise in a particular area, like children's teeth
• become a manager of a dental practice
• teach dental hygienist students
• move into a related job, such as a dental therapist or health promotion specialist
• become a dental hygienist in the Royal Navy, if you're already registered with the General Dental Council

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a Dental hygienist right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Access to HE - Science

• Provider: Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC)
• Start date: 09 September 2025
• Location: Harrow

Access to HE Science

• Provider: The Bournemouth and Poole College
• Start date: 08 September 2025
• Location: Poole

Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Not what you're looking for?

Related careers

• Dental technician
• Dental therapist
• Dental nurse
• Healthcare assistant
• Dentist

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

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