A dental hygienist or oral hygienist is a licensed dental professional, registered with a dental association or regulatory body within their country of practice.
What is a dental hygienist role?
Professional roles of the dental hygienist
Examining your teeth and gums for signs of oral disease. Deep cleaning and scaling your teeth, as well as tooth polishing. Applying fluoride treatments. Reviewing your oral health history and dental charts. Performing non-surgical gum treatments such as root planing.
Do dental hygienist do fillings?
A dental therapist can do everything a dental hygienist can do, and more. They can perform some dental treatments that we often think of as done by a dentist. These treatments include fillings, baby-tooth extraction, placement of crowns on baby teeth, and other procedures
What can a dental hygienist not do?
Hygienists cannot clean teeth, provide periodontal therapy, fluoride therapy, or any of the other things we do on a regular basis in a dental office without a diagnosis or treatment plan by the doctor.
How to Become A Dental Hygienist In South Africa
Becoming A Dental Hygienist
A career as a dental hygienist can be extremely fulfilling. Not only do you get to work with amazing people each day, you can also earn an awesome salary doing it. Depending on where you live (city, state, and cost of living) an average dental hygienist salary is over R1148595.46 (with top earners making over $100k annually.)
But to begin a dental hygienist career, you’ll need to complete a 2 or 4-year hygiene program, which can be extremely competitive to get into, and then pass national and state hygiene boards along with maintaining annual continuing education hours.
Industry experts repeatedly rank dental hygiene as a top job in healthcare because of its satisfaction rate, work/life balance, and salary. Just be warned – it also ranks high in exposure to infectious disease!
Education Requirements
Similar to becoming a Registered Nurse, Dental Hygienists can choose to complete either a 2 or 4-year program, receiving an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Dental Hygiene, respectively.
Regardless as to which type of program you complete, the licensure and pay is typically the same.
Many aspiring hygienists apply to more than one school due to the competitive admission process.
Prior to applying, basic prerequisite science courses must be completed.
The typical hygienist attends college between a total of 3-4 years, depending on which dental hygiene program they attend.
The actual hygiene coursework and training only takes 2 years. The additional 1-2 years are for degree or prerequisite requirements.
Types Of Dental Hygienist Degrees
Dental Hygienist Associate’s Degree
After core science prerequisite courses are completed, the student attends a 2-year dental hygiene program and graduates with an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Dental Hygienist Bachelor’s Degree
Similar to an associate’s degree, but with more foundational coursework requirements in order to fulfill a four-year university degree. After completing the majority of core courses, students proceed to their lecture/clinical hygiene studies.
Both 2 and 4-year degree programs include similar hygiene coursework (lecture and clinical) and sit for the same board exams. Associate’s degrees are awarded at junior or community college settings, while bachelor’s degrees are completed at universities. Admissions to both degree programs are highly competitive.
Dental Hygienist Master’s Degree
Hygienists who want to pursue careers in academia, research, or public health may choose to return to college to complete a master’s degree in Dental Hygiene. In order to teach at the college level, hygiene instructors must have – or be working toward – a higher degree.
Master’s degrees can frequently be completed online. Additionally, states such as Minnesota are now bridging into “dental therapist” programs, which is a master’s degree mid-level practitioner below a licensed dentist (dental therapists can perform a wider range of services than a dental hygienist, but fewer than a dentist.)
How To Get Your Dental Hygiene License In South Africa
During your final semester of dental hygiene school, your program coordinator will provide instructions on which exams and clinical boards to register for (just another reason why it’s important to attend an accredited program).
The type of testing that you’re required to complete will depend on the state where your school is located and the state in which you plan to practice. In most cases, you will sit for your written national board exam at your hygiene school.
When it’s time for the clinical exam, you and a patient will arrange to attend one of the authorized testing sites on a specific date and time. Your testing scores are then returned to you and/or your state dental board.
Once processed by the state and you’ve completed all application requirements (such as CPR and proof of degree completion), an annual license is mailed to your home address.
How long does it take to become a dental hygienist in South Africa?
Oral Hygiene Education and Academic Tradition in South Africa. The duration of all programs is three years, at the end of which a Degree in Oral Hygiene is issued.
What subjects are needed to become a dental hygienist in South Africa?
First-year
Anatomy.
Oral Biology and Physiology for Dental Auxiliaries.
Fundamentals of Clinical Oral Health.
Behavioural and Social Sciences for Dental Auxiliaries.
Oral Microbiology for Dental Auxiliaries.
Oral Pathology for Dental Auxiliaries.
What is a dental hygienist salary in South Africa?
R439,805 (ZAR)/yr.
What education is needed to become a dental hygienist?
Complete a qualification in Oral Health in an accredited program. This could be an Advanced Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene) or a Bachelor degree majoring in Oral Health.
Where can I study to become a dental hygienist in South Africa?
WHERE CAN I STUDY?
University of Pretoria. Bachelor of Oral Hygiene.
University of the Witwatersrand. Diploma: Oral Hygiene; Bachelor of Dental Science.
University of the Western Cape. Bachelor of Oral Health; Diploma: Oral Health.
University of KwaZulu-Natal. Diploma: Oral Health.
University of Limpopo. Diploma: Oral Health.
How long does it take to become a dental hygienist in South Africa ?
It will typically take between two and four years to become a dental hygienist, depending on the level of education in the industry you pursue. To work as a dental hygienist, you will need to be licensed with your state and with the American Dental Association.
How much do dental therapist earn per month in South Africa?
Salary range for the majority of workers in Dental assistants and therapists – from R6 817,92 to R34 202,74 per month
Is it hard to find a job as a dental hygienist in South Africa ?
Although the job outlook is good for dental hygienists, the market varies from state to state. Some states have more openings than hygienists. In others, the opposite is true. It may be more difficult to find employment in saturated areas, such as locations near hygienist training programs.
Can dental hygienist have their own practice in South Africa?
On successful completion, their registration is updated with the regulatory body, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and they may then practise accordingly. In addition to these expanded scopes, independent private practice for oral hygienists was introduced in 2012.
How much does it cost to study dentistry in South Africa?
The average cost of dental courses in South Africa is R15,000 per year.
What skills does a dental hygienist need?
10 Most Important Skills You Need as a Dental Hygienist
Oral Communication. To treat patients, you will need to talk to them.
Attention to Detail.
Compassion.
Problem Solving.
Manual Dexterity.
Conducting Initial Dental Assessments.
Removing Deposits from Teeth.
Applying Fluoride Treatments.
Do dental hygienists get benefits in South Africa ?
Dental hygienists may receive a range of benefits through their employers, including paid vacations, sick leave, insurance coverage, dues for professional memberships, and tuition support for continued education.
Is dental hygienist a stressful job?
More than half of dental hygienists feel stressed by their jobs on a daily or weekly basis, and 67% believe a supervisor or workload is the cause of the stress, according to a survey conducted by RDH e Village in January 2015. A silver lining is that the stress does not spill over into dental hygienists’ personal lives.