Dentistry is delighted to celebrate National Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Day for its second year – here we detail why it’s important to recognise and celebrate these integral roles.
Last year, Dentistry announced the launch of a new national celebration: National Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Day, held annually on 1 May.
Created in association with the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT), the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), and the Irish Dental Hygienists’ Association (IDHA), the date marks the anniversary of the introduction of direct access legislation on 1 May 2013 – a major turning point for dental hygienists and therapists.
To honour this milestone and celebrate these pivotal roles, we partnered with NSK to run a campaign throughout April on Dentistry.co.uk, culminating on 1 May. The campaign spotlighted the incredible work these professionals do every day through a series of articles, from inspiring stories to expert insights.
Join us in celebrating the skill and dedication of these unsung heroes of oral health!
Joanne Bowles, BADT chair
On National Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Day, the BADT celebrates and thanks our dedicated professionals who play a vital role in promoting and maintaining oral health and general wellbeing. Their expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care is truly commendable and their contributions are invaluable.
Celebrating this day brings us together as a profession and gives us the opportunity to raise public awareness of the roles we have within the dental team as well as the importance of good oral health. It is a day for dental hygienists and dental therapists to reflect, share experiences, support one another and recognise the hard work undertaken.
Rhiannon Jones, BSDHT president
Today is an opportunity to recognise the vital role that dental hygienists and dental therapists play in keeping mouths healthy, preventing disease, and improving lives. Every day, we provide hands-on, patient-centred care, ensuring prevention remains at the heart of dentistry. Beyond the clinic, we are educators, advocates and leaders. We raise awareness, drive change, and help communities achieve better oral and overall health.
With direct access, the exemptions that allow dental hygienists and dental therapists to administer and supply prescription only medicines, and the evolving skill mix in NHS dentistry, we’re shaping a more efficient, prevention-led system. Working to our full scope of practice and integrating into primary care means fewer unnecessary treatments, reduced pressure on NHS services, and improved long-term outcomes.
This occasion is a reminder of how far we’ve come and the work still ahead. We must strengthen our profession’s voice, inspire the next generation, and ensure oral health is valued, accessible, and prioritised for all.
Sviatlana Anishchuk, IDHA president
We are delighted to celebrate another year dedicated to the incredible profession of dental hygiene. This day is not only a time for recognition, but also an opportunity to reflect on how much we have achieved as a profession and how much more we still strive to accomplish!
The journey has not been without its challenges. The road remains rocky, and once again, we take this moment to remind everyone that oral health is an essential part of overall wellbeing. As dental hygienists, we are on the front lines, working directly with the public to prevent oral diseases, and improve quality of life.
Through our dedication and persistence, we continue to make a meaningful impact on the health of our communities.
Read more from the National Dental Hygienist and Dental Therapist Day campaign:
- Meeting complex health needs with tailored oral care
- What motivates you to keep going?
- The essential toolkit for becoming a therapy-led practice
- Dental therapy foundation training: a game-changer for graduates
- Scope of practice: navigating the new legislation.
With thanks to our sponsor, NSK.
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