As a health professional her job involves working in cooperation with the general dentist, the dental specialist, representatives from pharmaceutical companies, and CLSC or CSSS teams, as well as with primary school personnel.
The dental hygienist plays an essential role with the patients by informing them, examining their dentition and insuring that their teeth are maintained in a good general dental health condition.
Other professions in dentistry:
Training to become a dental hygienist in Québec
To practise this profession, the hygienist must have completed a technical DCS in hygiene (Diploma of College Studies) by receiving training in a Québec college (CEGEP) or obtained a recognized certificate of equivalence.
There are numerous training centres or schools in Québec where such courses are available. For instance:
- The St-Hyacinthe CÉGEP
- The Trois-Rivières CÉGEP
- The Édouard-Montpetit College
- The Lanaudière regional CEGEP in Terrebonne
Dental hygienists have the possibility of undertaking specialization training in order to broaden their expertise and their area of intervention in the dental office.
Just like the denturist, the hygienist must hold a licence to practice and be a member of the OHDQ (Ordre des hygiénistes dentaires du Québec) in order to legally exercise her profession.
The role of dental hygienist
It is a key position in a dental office. While 87% of hygienists exercise their profession in private dental offices, only 8% of hygienists work in public clinics, mainly in CSSS’s (Centres de santé et de services sociaux).
The main tasks performed by the hygienist are:
- dental hygiene education of patients
- detection of cavities
- prevention of oral diseases or disorders
- taking dental radiography (X-rays), traditional or panoramic
- preventive treatment of gums diseases (periodontic treatment)
- checking that dental restorations are in good condition
- aesthetic interventions (such as teeth whitening)
- scaling (removal of tartar) and polishing of teeth…
The hygienist provides information to the patient and applies the Québec public dental health programs.
In a nutshell, here is what there is to say about the dental hygienist profession:
It is a profession filled with variety, it brings together several skills, and it requires a high degree of comfort in the relational contact with the patient. The hygienist plays an essential role in a dental centre. She provides the link between the dentist and the various dentistry specializations in order to bring about the solutions that are best adapted to the patients.
The David & Cloutier Dental Office has three dental hygienists:
- Isabelle Carrier
- Assunta Tasca
- Ndiala Diop
Check the Google profile of the clinic as well as testimonies from patients regarding your Dental Center in Montréal, or call us to learn more.