Scope of Dental Hygiene Practice
The scope of practice for dental hygiene is set out in the documented “Detailed Scope
of Practice for Dental Hygiene Practice” produced and published from time to time by
the Dental Council.
Dental hygiene practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate
with a dental hygienist’s approved education, training and competence.
A dental hygienist’s major role is in the provision of oral health education and the
prevention of oral disease to promote healthy oral behaviours. A dental hygienist’s
primary task is in prevention and non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases. A
dental hygienist guides patients’ personal care to maintain sound oral tissues as an
integral part of their general health.
Dental hygienists practise in a team situation with clinical guidance provided by a
practising dentist or dental specialist1
, though some aspects of the scope of practice
are provided under direct clinical supervision2
Detailed Scope of Practice for Dental Hygiene Practice
The Dental Council defines the practice of dentistry as the maintenance of health
through the assessment, diagnosis, management, treatment and prevention of any
disease, disorder or condition of the orofacial complex and associated structures.
Dental hygiene practice is a subset of the practice of dentistry, and is commensurate
with a dental hygienist’s approved education, training and competence.
A dental hygienist’s major role is in the provision of oral health education and the
prevention of oral disease to promote healthy oral behaviours. A dental hygienist’s
primary task is in prevention and non-surgical treatment of periodontal diseases. A
dental hygienist guides patients’ personal care to maintain sound oral tissues as an
integral part of their general health. Dental hygienists practise in a team situation with
clinical guidance provided by a practising dentist or dental specialist, though some
aspects of the scope of practice are provided under direct clinical supervision.
Dental hygiene practice includes teaching, research and management given that such
roles influence clinical practice and public safety.
Dental hygiene practice involves the following aspects -
Provided under clinical guidance:
• Obtaining and reassessing medical and dental health histories.
• Examination of oral tissues and recognition of abnormalities.
• Assessing and provisionally diagnosing disease of periodontal tissues, and
appropriate referral.
• Obtaining informed consent for dental hygiene care plans.
• Providing oral health education, information, promotion and counselling.
• Scaling, debridement and prophylaxis of supra and subgingival tooth surfaces.
• Applying and dispensing non-prescription preventive agents and fissure
sealants.
• Applying and dispensing topical agents for the treatment of tooth surface
sensitivity and tooth discolouration.
• Administering topical local anaesthetic.
• Taking impressions, recording occlusal relationships and making study models.
• Taking impressions, constructing and fitting mouthguards and bleaching trays.
• Taking intra and extra-oral photographs.
• Performing postoperative procedures such as removal of sutures and placement
and removal of periodontal dressings.
• Recontouring and polishing of restorations.
• Taking periapical and bitewing radiographs for the purpose of recognising
disease of the periodontium3
.
• Taking extra-oral radiographs.
• Assisting the dentist or dental specialist in implementing orthodontic treatment
plans, prepared by the dentist or dental specialist responsible for the patient’s
clinical care outcomes, through performing the following orthodontic
procedures:
o Tracing cephalometric radiographs.
o Supragingival polishing of teeth (as part of oral hygiene, before bonding
and after removal of fixed attachments).
o Providing oral hygiene instruction and advice on the care and
maintenance of orthodontic appliances.
o Making study models, and fabricating retainers, and undertaking other
simple laboratory procedures of an orthodontic nature.
Provided under the direct clinical supervision of a dentist or dental specialist:
• Applying prescription preventive agents.
• Administering local anaesthetic using dentoalveolar infiltration and inferior
dental nerve block techniques.