Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dental hygienist
Dental hygienists are primary oral health care professionals who provide clinical assessments and
therapy, oral health education, and offer health promotion strategies to people of all ages. Dental
hygienists practise in a variety of settings,
including public health, dental hygiene practice, dental offices, hospitals, long-term care facilities,
educational institutions, and in dental industry. Many dental hygienists also conduct or participate in
research studies to expand
the scientific basis of dental hygiene practice.
What do dental hygienists do?
Dental hygienists provide individualized, systematic oral health care. They:
- Examine the mouth, oral tissues, head, and neck to identify strengths, needs, and concerns related
to your oral health
- Formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis
- Work collaboratively with you to develop goals and plan the appropriate care to meet your oral
health needs
- Perform preventive and therapeutic procedures, such as periodontal therapy (removing calculus and
plaque from your teeth), take radiographs (x-rays), apply fluoride to prevent tooth decay, and
provide support for healthy lifestyle choices
in the form of smoking cessation strategies, nutritional counselling, and oral cancer screening.
- Evaluate your progress in achieving optimal oral health
How are dental hygienists educated?
Dental hygienists are educated at four universities and thirty-three colleges across Canada. The dental
hygiene curriculum consists of a variety of subject areas including but not limited to microbiology and
infection control, anatomy and
physiology, nutrition and health, health promotion and disease prevention. While most dental hygienists
in Canada hold a 3-year college diploma, an increasing number have gone on to complete bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in dental hygiene,
dental science, public health and health sciences.
Who governs dental hygienists?
Regulatory Authorities in Canada. In order to practice in Canada, dental hygienists
must be registered or licensed by the appropriate provincial or territorial dental hygiene regulatory
authorities. Requirements for registration
or licensure varies by province or territory, including differences in clinical experience,
examinations required, and continuing education requirements.
Select a province to find the contact information for each of the regulatory authorities in Canada:
Alberta
College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta
302 - 8657- 51 Avenue
Edmonton AB T6E
6A8
Tel: 780-465-1756
Fax: 780-440-0544
E-Mail: info@crdha.ca
Web: http://www.crdha.ca
Renewal Date: October 31
British Columbia
College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia
600-3795 Carey Road
Victoria BC V8Z 6T8
Tel: 800-778-8277 (within BC) or 250-383-4101
Fax: 250-383-4144
Email: cdhbc@cdhbc.com
Web: http://www.cdhbc.com
Renewal Date: Last day of February
Manitoba
College of Dental Hygienists of Manitoba (CDHM)
109-420 Des Meurons Street
Winnipeg, MB
R2H 2N9
Tel: 204-219-2678
Fax: 204-219-2679
E-Mail: registrar@cdhm.info
Web: http://www.cdhm.info/
Renewal Date: January 15
Newfoundland and Labrador
Registrar, Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Suite 121
510 Topsail
Road
St. John's NL A1E 2C2
Tel: (709) 745-7304 or 1-855-863-8616
Fax: (709) 745-0877
Email:
contact@nlchp.ca
Website: www.nlchp.ca
Renewal Date: November 30
Nova Scotia
College of Dental Hygienists of Nova Scotia
11 – 2625 Joseph Howe Drive
Halifax, NS
B3L 4G4
Tel: 902-444-7241
Fax: 902-444-7242
E-Mail: info@cdhns.ca
Web: http://www.cdhns.ca
Renewal Date: October 31
Nunavut
Dept. of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
Box 390
Kugluktuk, NU X0B 0E0
Tel: 867-982-7668
Fax: 867-982-3256
E-Mail: bvandenassem@gov.nu.ca
Renewal Date: April 1
Ontario
Registrar, College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario
300 - 69 Bloor Street E.
Toronto ON M4W
1A9
Tel: 800-268-2346 (within Ontario) or 416-961-6234
Fax: 416-961-6028
E-Mail: admin@cdho.org
Web: http://www.cdho.org
Renewal Date: January 1
Prince Edward Island
Dental Council Prince Edward Island
184 Belvedere Avenue
Charlottetown PE C1A 2Z1
Tel: 902-628-8156
Fax: 902-892-0234
E-Mail: info@dcpei.ca
Web: www.dcpei.ca
Renewal Date: April 1
Quebec
Directrice générale, Ordre des hygiénistes dentaire du Québec
1155, rue University, bureau 1212
Montréal QC H3B 3A7
Tel: 800-361-2996 or 514-284-7639
Fax: 514-284-3147
E-Mail: info@ohdq.com
Web: http://www.ohdq.com
Renewal Date: April 1
Saskatchewan
Registrar, Saskatchewan Dental Hygienists Association
#320-350 3rd Ave. N
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 6G79
Tel: 306-931-7342
Fax: 306-931-7334
E-Mail: sdhaadmin@sasktel.net
Web: http://www.sdha.ca/
Renewal Date: October 31
Yukon Territory
Licensing Officer, Dept. of Community Services, Community Services,
Government of Yukon
307 Black Street
White Horse YK Y1A 2C6
Tel: 867-667-5940
Fax: 86-667-3609
E-Mail: cloverin@gov.yk.ca
Web: http://www.gov.yk.ca
Renewal Date: April 1