I am asked some of these questions often, so if one person wants to know, many probably do..

Regulations enacted under Alberta’s Health Professions Act (effective November, 2006) allow registered dental hygienists to provide services in a variety of practice settings in addition to working in a dental office. Often called “Independent Hygienists” ….I know new lingo

Practice settings include a dental hygiene clinics, mobile services or both. Yes – thats right a mobile hygienist could come right to you…or visit nursing homes to see your loved ones. Please, someone send a dental hygienist to me if I am ever in long term care or can’t make it to a dental hygiene appointment. Hygienists on the move.

Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic is stationary- we can’t come to you- but please feel free to come to us- we welcome all patients. If you want to find out more about a mobile hygienist have a look at the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta(CRDHA)- they have a list of independent hygienists in Alberta. If you are in a province other than Alberta – contact the provincial association for a list.

As indicated on the CRDHA site in their practice, Registered dental hygienists in Alberta do one or more of the following:

•assess, diagnose and treat oral health conditions through the provision of therapeutic, educational and preventive dental hygiene procedures and strategies to promote wellness,
•provide the services described in this section as clinicians, educators, researchers, administrators, health promoters and consultants.

Registered dental hygienists in Alberta:
•have met the educational and other requirements criteria for registration.
•apply a dental hygiene process of care model.
•practice with a foundation of evidence-based knowledge and theory.
•practice collaboratively with clients, colleagues and other health care professionals.
•provide client-centred services to prevent and treat oral disease and promote wellness.
•are involved in a variety of key responsibility areas related to dental hygiene practice (e.g. clinical, education, health promotion, administration, research, etc.).
•are legally, ethically, and professionally accountable for their practice and recognize personal limitations.
•maintain ongoing competence (e.g. through continuing education, research, reflective practice, practice hours, etc.).
•possess additional education, competencies and/or certification when performing advanced practice procedures.

Wow…and if that is not enough hygienists can apply to be on specific rosters indicating that they have the education and competencies to:

•prescribe the limited medications used in dental hygiene practice
•administer local anaesthetic by injection    (aka. freezing)
•prescribe and administer nitrous oxide/ oxygen for conscious sedation

So to summarize, registered dental hygienists are one smart group!!      and while I know we have a reputation of being   “lecturers of flossing”…we care a great deal about teeth, oral health and overall health…

Want to find a dental hygiene clinic, or mobile clinic in Canada? Locate a Dental Hygienist.com allows a search by city, province or name