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The role of dental hygienist in Ireland

Sviatlana Anishchuk and Ceara Cleary explore the dental hygienist role and discuss how implementing direct access in Ireland is a ‘necessary step’ that could help improve public health outcomes Dental hygienist training To become a dental hygienist in Ireland, you need to complete a two-year Level 7 Diploma in dental hygiene course. Currently, there are … Continued

Preparing for dental hygiene school

Anita Donnelly, Katie Cassidy, Kaitlin Crilly and Jowita Pala provide a comprehensive guide to preparing for dental hygiene school. Entering a dental hygiene course is a significant milestone in the journey towards a rewarding career in oral healthcare. Aspiring dental hygiene students embark on a rigorous educational path that requires dedication, hard work, organisation and … Continued

Diabetes, dental hygiene and me

The link between diabetes and periodontal disease is well known to dental professionals, but not to diabetics – Aisha Ramadan shares her experience of training in dental hygiene with diabetes. Diabetes. Periodontal disease. Diabetes and periodontal disease. These are common words to hear as dental practitioners. From the bidirectional relationship, the complications and the severity … Continued

What does the future of dental hygiene and therapy look like?

Lorna McGrath is the Northern Ireland regional group chair for the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT). Here, she discusses the current situation for dental hygienists and dental therapists in Northern Ireland. Just like on the mainland UK, dental hygienists and dental therapists in Northern Ireland are facing many challenges right now. The greatest … Continued

The hygienist in the cupboard

I recently heard a story about a dental practice where the hygienist’s ‘surgery’ was carved out and located in the cubbyhole under the stairs. Picture a triangular room, a slanting ceiling and the ‘thud, thump’ of footsteps providing a soundtrack to a relaxing treatment procedure. A ‘genius’ dentist saving a few pennies and investing wisely … Continued

Limerick dental hygienist wins patient-nominated award

Limerick dental hygienist Gillian Shannon was named Kin Dental Hygienist of the Year 2017 at the Irish Dental Hygienists Association (IDHA) annual conference. The award, created by Pamex, celebrates an exceptional dental hygienist in Ireland by asking patients up and down the country to nominate their hygienist for the accolade. The nominations are then whittled … Continued

IDHA to develop oral health programme in Ireland

The Irish Dental Hygienists Association (IDHA) has been tasked with developing a new social responsibility oral health programme for Ireland. Plans began at the International Federation of Dental Hygienists’ (IFDH) Global Oral Health Strategy Session, Social Responsibility Conference in Florence, Italy on 7 and 8 July 2017. The two-day conference was the second phase of … Continued