Dental Hygiene Profession

Scope of Practice

In Nova Scotia, a dental hygienist may act as a researcher, clinician, consultant, administrator, manager, educator, or health promoter. In Nova Scotia, dental hygienists implement the dental hygiene process of care, often called by the acronym ADPIE, which includes conducting an initial dental hygiene assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis (professional conclusion), planning treatment, implementing the treatment (or care) plan, and evaluating the outcomes.

Some of the key roles and services that dental hygienists are authorized to perform in Nova Scotia include:

1. Periodontal therapy: (e.g., periodontal debridement, often called scaling and rootplaning)
2. Dental X-rays: Dental hygienists can order, take, and interpret (diagnose) dental X-rays for dental hygiene purposes.
3. Oral Health Education for individual clients and communities.
4. Preventive/Therapeutic Treatments: This includes fluoride applications and dental sealants.
5. Teeth Whitening
6. Dental Hygiene Practices (mobile and store-front clinics): Dental hygienists may own and operate dental hygiene clinics. At this time, there are 13 dental hygiene practices.
7. Additional Authorizations: Dental hygienists who meet the requirements set out by the NSRDHDTD can apply for authorization to perform the following procedures:
   a. Local anesthesia administration
   b. Perform permanent restorative procedures in collaboration with a dentist
   c. Perform orthodontic procedures in collaboration with a dentist
   d. Prescribe the drugs set out in the Practice Standard: Prescribing for Dental Hygienists (document will be available after May 1, 2025).

Dental hygienists are required to maintain privacy and confidentiality, in accordance with legislation, regarding medical, dental, and personal information at all times.

Licensure Requirements

To become a dental hygienist in Nova Scotia, individuals must meet specific requirements. These include:

1. Education: Completion of a dental hygiene diploma or degree program at an accredited educational institution (or equivalent) is required.
   a. Applicants who obtained their dental hygiene education from a non-accredited dental hygiene program must meet the additional requirements, as required by legislation. 
   b. Currently, there are 35 educational institutions (Colleges and Universities) that offer dental hygiene programs across Canada.
   c. In Nova Scotia, dental hygiene education is offered at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Dentistry. There are two options offered at Dalhousie – a three-year Bachelor of Dental Hygiene degree (includes the pre-professional year) and a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene with Honours Program, which offers an additional year where students take a series of courses which build upon the knowledge base of the degree program.
2. Licensure: To practice legally in the province, individuals must be issued a practising licence from the Nova Scotia Regulator of Dental Hygiene, Dental Technology, and Denturism (NSRDHDTD).
3. Professional Designations: Individuals who hold a practising licence with the NSRDHDTD are entitled to call themselves “registered dental hygienists” or “dental hygienists” or use the initials “D.H.” or “R.D.H”.
4. National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination: In Canada, dental hygienists must pass the National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE) (offered through the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada) to demonstrate their competency in dental hygiene.
5. Continuing Education: Dental hygienists are required to engage in the NSRDHDTD Dental Hygiene Continuing Competency Program and complete ongoing professional development and continuing education activities to maintain their licensure. Dental hygienists are expected to engage in activities that address and promote continuing competence, inter-professional collaboration, changes in practice environments, standards of practice, and the latest advancements in the field.
6. Practice Hours: Dental hygienists are required to complete 600 practice hours within the three-year period immediately preceding an application, including renewals.