About Dental hygienists

Dental hygienists are regulated health professionals who specialize in oral health promotion and disease prevention. They work with individual clients or communities to prevent and treat tooth, gum and mouth diseases that can affect quality of life and overall health. Dental hygiene services are provided to individuals across the age spectrum, ranging from parents in pre-natal classes to the elderly in long-term care facilities.

Most PEI Dental hygienists practice as clinicians in private dental offices, while others work as educators in universities/colleges, or provide dental hygiene services and health promotion programming in a variety of settings such as personal care homes, schools, within regional health authorities, and in public or community health programs. There are also independent dental hygienists in PEI operating their own businesses.

The CDHA Code of Ethics sets out the ethical principles and responsibilities which apply to all members of the dental hygiene profession across all practice areas including clinical care, education, research, administration and any other role related to the profession of dental hygiene. The Practice Standards of Dental Hygienists in Prince Edward Island are authoritative statements that define the legal and professional expectations of dental hygienist practice.