08Dec2011
Dental Hygiene in British Columbia
Dental hygienists have been recognized as health care professionals in Canada for more than 50 years. Today there are over 3,200 dental hygienists registered in the province of British Columbia.
Dental hygiene is a fast-growing and rewarding profession for men and women interested in a career in the health field. There are opportunities for dental hygienists to practice in a wide variety of settings in British Columbia.
Dental Hygiene Education
There are dental hygiene programs offered in Vancouver, Victoria, Chilliwack, Nanaimo and Prince George. For additional information, please see Dental Hygiene Education in B.C.
Registration to Practice
All dental hygienists in the province must be registered with the College of Dental Hygienists of British Columbia, which regulates the profession to ensure the public receives safe and effective dental hygiene care. The College of Dental Hygienists sets practice standards, a code of ethics and quality assurance requirements for dental hygienists practicing in British Columbia. For additional information, please see Registration to Practice Dental Hygiene in B.C..
Employment Opportunities and Practice Settings
Registered Dental Hygienists are primary health care providers whose education and training focus on the prevention of oral disease and the promotion of oral health.
Registered Dental Hygienists in BC work in a number of settings, including dental offices, dental hygiene practices, residential care facilities, hospitals, community health centres, public health units, schools and educational institutions.
Due to a recent increase in the number of dental hygiene education programs across Canada, prospective students should be aware that employment opportunities in dental offices may not be readily available in all areas of the province.
In BC, the legislation permits a dental hygienist to own and operate his/her own dental hygiene practice. Private practices enable dental hygienists to establish different practice settings, helping the public to obtain oral care services from the most appropriate professional, when and where they need it. For example, mobile practices bring dental hygiene services to remote communities and housebound clients, while storefront locations provide ease of access.
Independent Dental Hygiene Directory for BC (pdf format)
Click here if you are a dental hygienist looking for employment.
Dental offices wishing to place an ad on the BCDHA Employment Opportunities site, click here.