What to Expect in a Dental Hygienist Career – Part 2

A dental hygienist is typically the first professional you see in a dental office. Think of them as the equivalent of nurses in hospitals, which means they play a crucial part in completing the patient’s experience in check-ups, particularly in preventing and treating oral diseases. 

Dental hygiene experts can take a significant burden off a dentist’s load, allowing them to focus and perform specialized procedures and treatment plans. Seeing as they take up most of the preventive dental care duties in a dental clinic – from removing tooth decay, filling cavities, repairing teeth, creating teeth models, and other similar tasks, it can be an excellent career that can improve your dental portfolio. 

What to Expect in Your Work as a Dental Hygienist?

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As mentioned above, a dental hygiene professional plays an integral part in a dental-led team, which means you’ll likely work closely with dentists, dental nurses, and dental therapists. There are job opportunities available in different parts of the UK, whether it’s in a community dental service, private dental practice, and other similar paths in urban and rural areas. 

There is no set standard for the uniform, though dental hygienists are required to wear glasses, gloves, and a face mask safely to mitigate the risk of spreading infectious disease from patient-to-patient.

What is the Working Hours as a Dental Hygienist?

Dental hygienists tackle different workloads, so the ability to adapt is one of the most significant skills that can give you a competitive advantage in this career. Dental hygienists typically work for 37.5 hours a week, clocking in from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. 

Keep in mind that depending on the clinic or organization, you may need to come in earlier, work at a later shift, or come in over the weekend. It goes without saying that flexibility is a critical skill that can set you apart as a dental hygienist. Fortunately, there are also part-time work possibilities available.

What is the Salary for Dental Hygienists?

Dental hygienists working in the NHS can expect a starting salary between £23,023 and £29,608, wherein the rate follows the standard of the NHS Agenda for Change. You can bump up the pay grade for specialist dental hygienists, which can expect growth between £28,050 and £36,644.

You can also see a significant increase in earnings the more experience you gain, ramping up to £43,041. Generally speaking, the hourly rate for a dental hygienist ranges between £16.50 to £31.00 per hour.

The Bottom Line: What to Expect in Your Career Growth as a Dental Hygienist

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If you’re on the hunt for dental opportunities, check out our job offers at Dental Talent! We’re not your average job board since we work with dental practitioners that connect you with relevant career paths. 

You also manage your CV, all while having a dedicated audience, so check out our recruitment advertising platform for dentists and see how we can take the struggle away from landing the right job in UK’s dental industry.