An oral hygienist (in Slovenian: ustni higienik / ustna higieničarka) is a healthcare profession focused mainly on prevention, oral hygiene, the prevention of diseases of the teeth and periodontal tissues, and health education.
What does an oral hygienist do? Where can they find work? What education do they need? How long does the training take, and what is an oral hygienist’s pay in Slovenia? Below we present the profession, the education, the competences, the conditions for practice and the employment opportunities.
Oral hygienist – a short description of the profession
An oral hygienist is a healthcare worker who deals mainly with preventive and therapeutic oral hygiene within the scope of their professional competence.
Their work includes:
- advice on correct oral hygiene,
- health education,
- teaching correct tooth brushing,
- advice on cleaning between the teeth,
- checking for dental plaque,
- professional removal of dental deposits,
- scaling above and below the gum line,
- root planing,
- polishing the teeth,
- advice on caring for removable dentures and appliances,
- monitoring the condition of the teeth and gums,
- documenting the work done,
- working with the dentist and other members of the dental team.
In Slovenia, the oral hygienist is a regulated healthcare profession.
What does an oral hygienist do?
The main purpose of an oral hygienist’s work is to help the patient keep their teeth and periodontal tissues healthy and to prevent disease.
The work begins with a conversation and an assessment of oral hygiene. The oral hygienist explains the situation to the patient, presents suitable aids and teaches them correct cleaning techniques.
During professional treatment, they may carry out removal of dental deposits, root planing and polishing of the teeth, within the scope of their competence.
Monitoring progress is also an important part of the profession. The patient can be advised on choosing a toothbrush, interdental brushes, dental floss and other oral hygiene aids.
The oral hygienist and prevention
Prevention is one of the key areas of an oral hygienist’s work.
Good oral hygiene helps to prevent, or reduce the risk of, many problems affecting the teeth and periodontal tissues. The oral hygienist therefore does not see the patient only when there is a problem, but encourages them to look after their oral health over the long term.
Particularly important are:
- removal of dental plaque,
- correct brushing,
- cleaning between the teeth,
- regular oral hygiene,
- correct use of aids,
- early recognition of changes,
- regular monitoring of the condition of the mouth.
What competences does an oral hygienist have?
The occupational standard for oral hygienists sets out a wide range of professional competences. Among other things, an oral hygienist must be qualified for:
- planning and organising their own work,
- carrying out oral hygiene,
- preventive oral hygiene procedures,
- certain therapeutic procedures,
- monitoring the condition of the teeth and gums,
- health education,
- advising patients,
- documentation,
- communicating with patients,
- working in the dental team,
- ensuring quality of work,
- using professional terminology,
- safe working practice,
- using aids and instruments,
- basic life support and first aid.
The work must be carried out within the legally defined scope of competence.
Is the oral hygienist a regulated profession?
Yes. The oral hygienist is a regulated healthcare profession in Slovenia.
This means that general experience or knowledge of oral hygiene is not enough to practise the profession; the prescribed conditions must be met.
According to current information on the SPOT portal, an oral hygienist must complete a traineeship and the professional examination before starting to practise. The competent ministry is the Ministry of Health.
What education does an oral hygienist need?
In Slovenia, the profession requires short-cycle higher vocational education.
The higher vocational study programme:
- takes 2 years,
- carries 120 credits,
- is placed at level 6 of the Slovenian Qualifications Framework (SQF 6),
- corresponds to level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF 5).
The official title of the qualification is ustni higienik/ustna higieničarka (oral hygienist). To enrol in higher vocational education, the prescribed admission requirements must be met.
Where can I train to become an oral hygienist?
In Slovenia you can train for the profession in the higher vocational study programme Oral Hygienist. The programme includes theoretical and practical training.
Students gain knowledge in areas related to:
- anatomy,
- physiology,
- the teeth,
- the periodontal tissues,
- oral hygiene,
- prevention,
- health education,
- communication,
- clinical procedures,
- occupational safety,
- infection prevention,
- documentation,
- first aid.
A large part of the programme is practical training.
How long does the training take?
The higher vocational study programme Oral Hygienist takes two years and carries 120 credits.
After successfully completing the programme, other legal conditions must also be met to practise the regulated healthcare profession, including a traineeship and the professional examination where these are prescribed.
Traineeship and professional examination
Education alone is not the only condition for practising a regulated healthcare profession. Current information on the SPOT portal lists a traineeship and the professional examination as important conditions before starting to practise as an oral hygienist.
The professional examination for healthcare workers covers prescribed content in the following areas:
- emergency medical assistance,
- safety and quality in healthcare,
- the legal framework of healthcare,
- the professional field of the specific profession.
Current information on the procedure is published by the Ministry of Health.
Where can an oral hygienist work?
An oral hygienist works mainly in dental care.
Dental clinics
Working in the dental team and providing preventive and professional oral hygiene.
Community health centres
An oral hygienist can work within the public healthcare network and its dental services.
Private dental practices
Private dentistry is an important part of the employment opportunities.
Hospitals
Work is also possible in a hospital setting where appropriate dental or preventive services are provided.
Health resorts
Health resorts are also among the possible places of work.
Private healthcare practice
Provided all prescribed conditions are met, an oral hygienist can run a private healthcare practice.
→ Oral hygienist: current vacancies
Can an oral hygienist open their own salon?
There is an important distinction here. Oral hygiene, when it involves providing healthcare services within an oral hygienist’s competence, falls within healthcare activity. Opening an independent practice is therefore not the same as opening an ordinary beauty salon.
Before starting to work independently, the conditions must be checked regarding:
- education,
- the professional examination,
- registration of the activity,
- premises,
- equipment,
- permits,
- the provision of healthcare activity,
- other legal requirements.
The current conditions must be checked with the competent institutions, as healthcare legislation changes.
Is an oral hygienist a dentist?
No. The oral hygienist and the doctor of dental medicine are two different healthcare professions.
A doctor of dental medicine has broader competences in diagnosing and treating diseases of the teeth, the oral cavity and the periodontal tissues. The oral hygienist specialises mainly in oral hygiene, prevention, health education and the professional procedures within their competence.
Both professions can work together in the dental team.
→ Dentist – doctor of dental medicine: profession guide
Is an oral hygienist a dental assistant?
No. The dental assistant and the oral hygienist have different roles.
The dental assistant helps organise and carry out dental treatment and assists the dentist. The oral hygienist has specialised higher vocational education and carries out oral hygiene procedures and preventive work within their professional competence.
→ Dental assistant: profession guide
Oral hygienist pay in Slovenia
An oral hygienist’s pay depends on the employer, the post, length of service, allowances and other elements of the pay system.
In the public sector there is a specific post of ORAL HYGIENIST (USTNI HIGIENIK), marked in the catalogue of posts with the code E046004.
When comparing salaries, the difference between the following must be taken into account:
- gross pay,
- net pay,
- basic pay,
- allowances,
- reimbursement of expenses,
- length of service,
- performance pay,
- overtime.
Salaries in private dentistry are not necessarily the same as in the public sector. A single figure for average pay therefore does not necessarily reflect the pay every oral hygienist can expect.
Finding a job as an oral hygienist
When looking for a job, it makes sense to follow:
- the Employment Service of Slovenia,
- job portals,
- the websites of community health centres,
- private dental practices,
- the websites of dental centres,
- hospitals and other healthcare institutions.
Employers do not always use the same title in their adverts, so search using several terms:
- oral hygienist,
- dental hygienist,
- oral hygiene,
- dentistry,
- ustni higienik (the Slovenian title),
- ustna higieničarka.
→ All vacancies in dental medicine
Is the oral hygienist a profession in demand?
The labour market for oral hygienists is smaller than for some broader healthcare professions, so the number of vacancies may be limited. Demand varies by region, type of provider and the organisation of dental services.
When assessing employment prospects, it is therefore worth following the current adverts of the Employment Service of Slovenia and what individual dental providers are offering.
What is an oral hygienist’s working day like?
The working day can be very varied. A typical appointment may include:
- receiving the patient,
- a conversation about oral hygiene,
- examining and assessing the state of oral hygiene,
- recording the data,
- explaining the correct cleaning technique,
- choosing suitable aids,
- professional removal of dental deposits,
- other procedures within the scope of competence,
- instructions for home care,
- documenting the appointment.
Most of the work is directly with the patient.
What qualities does an oral hygienist need?
Accuracy
Working in the mouth requires precision and good manual dexterity.
Communication skills
Correct oral hygiene has to be explained to the patient in an understandable way.
Patience
Changing habits can take time and repetition.
Empathy
Some patients are afraid of dental procedures.
Responsibility
The oral hygienist works directly with the patient and must follow professional and legal standards.
Organisation
The work includes scheduling, preparing instruments, documentation and working with other members of the team.
Advantages and challenges of the profession
Advantages
- working in healthcare,
- strongly preventive work,
- direct contact with patients,
- practical work,
- two-year higher vocational education,
- the option of working in the public and private sectors,
- opportunities for further professional development,
- the option of private healthcare practice once the conditions are met.
Challenges
- the work requires great precision,
- long periods of sitting can be physically demanding,
- good manual dexterity is needed,
- working with patients requires good communication skills,
- the labour market is relatively small,
- the profession is regulated and the prescribed conditions must be met.
What is the future of the profession?
Oral health is linked to prevention and to keeping the teeth and periodontal tissues healthy in the long term. The future development of the profession will be linked mainly to:
- the development of prevention,
- population ageing,
- greater attention to oral health,
- the development of dental services,
- the digitalisation of health records,
- cooperation between different healthcare professions.
The oral hygienist’s role here is mainly preventive and supportive within the dental team.
Oral hygienist – frequently asked questions
What is an oral hygienist?
An oral hygienist is a healthcare worker who deals mainly with prevention, oral hygiene, health education and professional oral hygiene procedures.
How long does the training take?
The higher vocational study programme takes 2 years and carries 120 credits.
What education does an oral hygienist have?
An oral hygienist has higher vocational education in oral hygiene.
Is the oral hygienist a regulated profession?
Yes. The oral hygienist is a regulated healthcare profession in Slovenia.
Is a professional examination required?
Yes. To practise the profession, the conditions must be met, including a traineeship and the professional examination, as set out in the current rules.
Where can an oral hygienist work?
Mainly in dental clinics, community health centres, private dental practices and other healthcare institutions or settings where the relevant services are provided.
Can an oral hygienist work privately?
Yes, if they meet the legal conditions for private healthcare practice.
Is an oral hygienist a dentist?
No. These are two different healthcare professions with different education and competences.
What is an oral hygienist’s pay?
Pay depends on the employer, the post, length of service and allowances. In the public sector, the oral hygienist is one of the systematised posts for healthcare workers.
Do you need the matura to become an oral hygienist?
To enrol in higher vocational education, the prescribed conditions must be met, including conditions relating to the matura or another suitable educational path.
ORAL HYGIENIST JOBS (see current vacancies for oral hygienists)
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Sources and useful links
- SPOT – Oral hygienist: official information on the profession, conditions, activities and the professional examination.
- Slovenian Qualifications Framework (SQF) – Oral hygienist: qualification level, duration and credits.
- Ministry of Health – professional examination: current information on the professional examination for healthcare workers.
- Employment Service of Slovenia – eSvetovanje: description of the occupation and labour market information.
- Occupational standard Oral hygienist: officially defined competences.
- Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia: legislation governing the profession, traineeship and the professional examination.
- SKALDENS – Higher Vocational College: information on training as an oral hygienist.
