For the Public

What does a dental hygienist do?

Dental hygienists are primary oral health care professionals who provide clinical assessments and therapy, oral health education, and offer health promotion strategies to people of all ages. Dental hygienists practice in a variety of settings, including public health, dental hygiene practice, dental offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, and in dental industry. Many dental hygienists also conduct or participate in research studies to expand the scientific basis of dental hygiene practice.

Dental hygienists provide individualized, systematic oral health care. They:

  1. Examine the mouth, oral tissues, head, and neck to identify strengths, needs, and concerns related to your oral health
  2. Formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis
  3. Work collaboratively with you to develop goals and plan the appropriate care to meet your oral health needs
  4. Perform preventive and therapeutic procedures, such as periodontal therapy (removing calculus and plaque from your teeth), take radiographs (x-rays), apply fluoride to prevent tooth decay, and provide support for healthy lifestyle choices in the form of smoking cessation strategies, nutritional counselling, and oral cancer screening.
  5. Evaluate your progress in achieving optimal oral health

How are dental hygienists educated

Dental hygienists are educated in universities and colleges across Canada. The dental hygiene curriculum consists of a variety of subject areas including but not limited to microbiology and infection control, anatomy and physiology, nutrition and health, health promotion and disease prevention. While most dental hygienists in Canada hold a 3-year college diploma, an increasing number have gone on to complete bachelor’s and master’s degrees in dental hygiene, dental science, public health and health sciences.

Who governs dental hygienists?

Regulatory Authorities in Canada. In order to practice in Canada, dental hygienists must be registered or licensed by the appropriate provincial or territorial dental hygiene regulatory authorities. Requirements for registration or licensure varies by province or territory, including differences in clinical experience, examinations required, and continuing education requirements.

To acquire registration and a license to practice dental hygiene in Saskatchewan, please contact the CDHS.

Your Oral Health:

CDHA defines oral health as the state of the mouth and associated structures being free from disease and, where future disease is inhibited, maintaining functions such as eating, talking, and smiling, contributing to overall health, well-being, and quality of life.

 

Oral disease:

  • Oral diseases are among the most prevalent chronic diseases.
  • They include tooth decay and gum diseases that can lead to pain and tooth loss.
  • Oral cancer leads to pain, tooth loss and premature death if not detected early on.
  • Oral diseases—once considered localized infections—are now associated with other diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
  • Oral disease and pain can have a significant negative impact on your ability to learn, work, socialize, speak and eat foods that you need.

Did You Know?

  • You can’t be healthy without good oral health. Poor oral health is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, pre-term low birth weight babies, and more.
  • Tooth decay is the most common disease of childhood—decay in children’s primary teeth predicts future decay in adult teeth.
  • Tooth decay can continue throughout your lifetime.
  • In some areas in Canada, dental procedures under general anesthesia are the most common surgical procedures that children receive in hospitals. 2
  • Canadians spend 13 billion dollars a year on oral health care, diseases, and injuries that are almost all preventable. In terms of costs associated with disease categories, oral health care follows cardiovascular disease and exceeds costs for respiratory disease and cancer. 3,6
  • About 32% of Canadians have no dental insurance and this number increases with age. 4
  • If you smoke, drink alcohol excessively, or have diabetes, then your chances of developing gum diseases are higher. Smoking, alcohol consumption and oral sex also increase your risk for oral cancer.
  • Limited income and education are risk factors for high rates of oral disease.
  • Government spending on oral health has decreased from 11% in 1984 to 8% in 2011, resulting in a greater cost for the individual. 5,6

References

Lux J. Review of the Oral Disease—Systemic Disease Link. Part I and II. Canadian Journal Of Dental Hygiene, Nov-Dec 2006, Vol. 40(6): 288-342 and Jan-Feb 2007, Vol. 41(1): 8-21.

British Columbia. Provincial health officer’s annual report 1997. Victoria: Ministry of Health and Ministry Responsible for Seniors; 1998. p. 92.

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is: The Future of Dental Care in Canada. Ottawa: CCPA; April 2011.

Health Canada: Summary Report on the Findings of the Oral Health Component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey 2007-2009. Ottawa, Ontario: Publications Health Canada; 2010.

Canadian Institute for Health Information. Exploring the 70/30 split: how Canada’s health care system is financed. Ottawa: CIHI; 2005.

Canadian Institutes for Health Information. National Health Expenditure: 1975 to 2011. Ottawa: CIHI; 2011.

Petersen PE. WHO global policy for improvement of oral health. International Dental Journal 2008;58(3): 115-121

Tips for Good Oral Health: https://www.dentalhygienecanada.ca/DHCanada/DHCanada/Information/Top_10_Tips.aspx

Top 10 Oral Health Tips – Helpful Tips for a Great Smile

  1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. (2 x 2 minutes).
  2. Floss between your teeth. Using dental floss daily can help keep gums healthy.
  3. Rinse using an antiseptic mouthwash to kill germs that cause cavities and gum disease.
  4. Make healthy food choices. Nutritious food, low in sugar, is good for both oral and overall health.
  5. Wear a mouthguard when playing or practising sports. Your dental hygienist can make a custom fitted one for you.
  6. Choose to be tobacco free. Using tobacco products can stain your teeth and increase your risk of developing oral cancer.
  7. Want your child to stay cavity free? Ask your dental hygienist if pit and fissure sealants are a good option for your child.
  8. Check your mouth once a month. Know what’s normal. If you have a sore that does not heal within two weeks, get it checked by a health professional.
  9. Re-think your drink! Drinking sweetened beverages and acidic fluids increases your risk of developing cavities.
  10. Visit your dental hygienist regularly. Begin visits by age one and continue throughout your life.