The dental hygienist is concerned with the prevention of gum diseases. He or she performs functions of care, such as cleanings and oral exams; health promotion, such as advice on dental hygiene; and administrative and management functions, such as monitoring and updating patient data.
All functions stem from the dentist's diagnosis; the dental hygienist works under the dentist supervision.

• To control and maintain in good condition some components of periodontium: gums, teeth, jawbone and periodontal ligament (which connect the tooth to the bone).
• To perform dental cleanings and whitening.
• To place fissure sealants with noninvasive techniques (without using anesthesia) into tooth requiring the intervention to prevent tooth decay, always under the supervision of a dentist.

• To promote health education in oral hygiene, giving advices and recommendations, and to provide guidelines to the dietary control aimed at preventing oral disease processes.
• To plan and monitor the control process of patients¿ oral health.

• To keep track of patients and update their data.
• To configure the budget of treatments and informs patients about it.
• To collect data about gum disease for clinical or epidemiological use.

Regulated training and graduates

• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Health - Advanced Level: Oral Hygiene

Complementary training

• Course on Food and oral health. (Oral health promotion).
• Course on Prevention and oral health for different population groups: people with disabilities, children, the elderly, etc. (Oral health promotion).
• Course on Periodontics (study of diseases and conditions that affect mouth components: gum, periodontal ligament, jawbone, etc.). (Health care).
• Maintenance Course on gum state around dental implants. (Health care).

Other specific skills

Initiative: Level 1

Orientation within reach: Level 1

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 1

Flexibility and change management: Level 1

Customer orientation: Level 1

Healthcare

Working to maintain and improve health, as well as physical and mental well-being, is the primary interest of people who are involved in the field of healthcare. Some of the activities in this field include making diagnoses, prescribing treatments and monitoring illnesses and injuries. These activities also include the application of therapeutic treatments (traditional or alternative) with a view to facilitating the physical recovery of those being treated. To carry out these activities, one must have in-depth knowledge of the human body and medicine, in its various specialisations.

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Tiler

Lifeguard

• Work hours

  The regular working day is complete (40 hours), distributed during the morning and the afternoon from Monday to Friday. However, the dental hygienist provides services in different clinics and, hence, he or she may organize and schedule the day autonomously having the clinic timetable as the only constraint.

• Salary

  Salary range: between 21.631 and 29.807 euros annum gross. Median: 25.392 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Specialist staff

It is not the usual way of exerting the profession. The franchise chains often hire dental hygienists as employees.

• Human resources and equipment

  Borne by the clinic or where this professional provides dental services.

• Initial investments

  The dental hygienist uses the space and resources of dental clinic where he or she works.