What Do Dental Hygienists Do?
Have you ever gone to a dental clinic near you and wondered who all the staff were? You recognize the dentist, but who are all the other members of the dentist’s team? One of the core members of every dental clinic’s staff team is the dental hygienist. But just what do dental hygienists do and how important are they? In Alberta, dental hygienists typically complete a three-year diploma or bachelor’s degree program that includes training in preventative dentistry and oral and clinical science. Students interested in becoming dental hygienists in Alberta may take the Bachelor of Science Dental Health Program in the University of Alberta’s School of Dentistry. The University of Alberta’s dentistry school is one of approximately 11 programs that train and educate dental hygienists in Canada. Like dentistry, the professional practice of dental hygiene in St. Albert is a regulated profession controlled by the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta. Through the College, patients