Dental Hygiene

Dental hygiene is a clinical oral health profession focused on the prevention of oral disease and the promotion of good oral health across the whole population. Dental hygienists work as part of the dental team, providing treatments including professional scaling and cleaning, providing tailored oral health education to individual patients, applying preventive agents such as fluoride and fissure sealants, and playing a central role in the management of periodontal disease. Good oral health is closely linked to general health and wellbeing, and dental hygienists contribute to reducing inequalities in health by providing preventive services that keep more people out of the dental chair for treatment.

Bangor University offers this two-year full-time programme, which leads directly to qualification as a dental hygienist and eligibility to register with the General Dental Council. The shorter duration reflects the focused clinical and professional nature of the training, which combines academic study with substantial patient-facing clinical practice. No typical tariff is published for this programme, reflecting the professional entry criteria which typically include relevant prior experience or qualifications in healthcare or science.

You will study oral anatomy, dental materials science, periodontology, preventive dentistry, pharmacology, radiography and the clinical skills needed to provide safe and effective dental hygiene treatment. Clinical placements, which are a fundamental component of the programme, give you supervised experience working with real patients across a range of dental settings, developing both your technical skill and your patient communication ability.

Graduates of dental hygiene programmes register with the General Dental Council and practise in NHS and private dental practices, community dental services, hospitals, specialist periodontal practices and dental schools. Many dental hygienists also provide health promotion services in schools, care homes and community settings. Continuing professional development is required for ongoing GDC registration, and many dental hygienists go on to qualify as dental therapists or develop specialist interests in periodontics, implant maintenance or oral health education.

Postgraduate study in oral health or dental therapy is an option for those seeking to extend the scope of their practice.