Dental Hygienist Education: Practical Training
Approximately half the time spent in training should be devoted to practical clinical procedures.
Pre-Clinical Training
Facilities should be available for students to develop their practical skills using phantom head and other appropriate laboratory aids, prior to working on patients.
The students should be able to identify and select the appropriate equipment, instruments and materials for the task to be carried out, use instruments safely and effectively, and maintain them to the required standard.
Students should be able to organise their working environment.
Clinical Training
Scope Adequate experience should be provided in the full range of practical procedures as permitted by the Council's Regulations including:
- preventive procedures such as topical fluoride applications and fissure sealant placement (including the fitting of rubber dam where appropriate);
- periodontal therapies such as the polishing of the teeth (including teeth previously filled or crowned), supra and sub gingival scaling, root surface debridement, pocket irrigation, the placement of sub-gingival anti-microbial agents and the care of dental implants;
- local infiltration analgesia;
- radiographic techniques of oral relevance including the taking of periapical, bitewing, occlusal and panoramic radiographs and the processing of films;
- measurements and assessments, including periodontal charting and the use of oral hygiene, gingival and periodontal indices.
Types of Patients
During their training, Student Dental Hygienists should, in association with other members of the dental team, treat the full range of adult and child patients, including medically compromised children and adults and those with physical or mental disabilities.
Locations
Opportunity should be given for students to work or observe in a variety of working conditions, such as community dental clinics, in-patient hospital facilities, general dental practice and the domiciliary setting.
Practical Oral Health Education
Practical participation in the planning, provision and evaluation of oral health education programmes and the practical demonstration of communication skills with individuals and diversity of target groups.