About B Oral Health/Dental Hygienists

It means in some states in Australia, like NSW, hygienist's are unable to have their own practice. Although it is important we are able to recognise when there are abnormalities in the oral cavity, pathology in the oral mucosa, as well as when dental caries is present, as a Hygienist we are unable to diagnose dental caries ourselves or pathology. We can take radiographs and learn how to analyse them, but like I mentioned, we cannot diagnose decay. So basically, we work in the same clinic (separate surgeries) as a dentist or dental specialist who is their primary carer. I hope this answered your question.

Oh yes, thanks for that!!Very helpful stuff

Where else can you study Oral Health? Is it hard to get in to? Is the course hard?

Where else? Other than university? Some universities combine oral health (hygiene) with dental therapy (Sydney university). This is a university course, but can be studied in several states in Australia.

The course is alot of work, time consuming, and the content varies in difficulty for different subjects. For e.g Oral pathology, periodontology, caries and pain control are quite involved subjects. I was not particularly academic before entering the course but if you work hard you see good results. When I started seeing patients in 2nd year all the theory was put into practice. It's all worth it in the end...