Dental hygienists are dental care professionals and work as part of the dental team. While dentists concentrate on treating tooth and gum conditions, the dental hygienist has a vital role in helping to prevent problems from arising.

Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. They examine patients' teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities.

Dental hygienists use an assortment of different instruments to complete their tasks. Hand and rotary instruments and ultrasonic devices are used to clean and polish teeth, including removing calculus, stains, and plaque. They may use models of teeth to explain oral hygiene, perform root planning as a periodontal therapy, or apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit & fissure sealants.

Dental hygienists also help patients develop and maintain good oral health. For example, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health or inform patients how to select toothbrushes and show them how to brush and floss their teeth.

To practise, dental hygienists need to have undertaken an appropriate course approved by the General Dental Council. Registration with the General Dental Council is a mandatory requirement.