You need several hard and soft skills if you want a thriving career as a dental hygienist. Some skills can be gain naturally from your chosen Dental hygiene programs in Toronto. But if you have completed your program you can still work on it even if you are not great in some skill. The following competencies include:

Hard Skills

• Job Skills: You need job-specific skills such as initial dental examinations and reporting, the removal of plaque, tartar and teeth stains, taking X-rays, educating the patients with good oral health techniques, such as how to properly floss and brush teeth and, the use of fluoride and sealants.
• Visual Needs: The patient’s teeth should be seen from at least 20-inch away. For fine motor control, you should have good hand-eye coordination. To detect differences in tissue conditions, your eyes should easily differentiate spectrum colors. Subtle radiographic density changes need to be discernible.
• Motor Skills: Fine and rigorous motor skills are needed for effective and best patient care. The hands and fingers must be sensory alert, so that tooth deposits can be easily detected and extracted. You need ample tactile capability to use small devices with sufficient control. You also require full manual dexterity (the function of arms, hands, fingers, and wrists).
• Stamina and Physical Strength: You need enough physical strength to be able to move around, whether alone or by a walker, crutches, or cane You also need adequate physical strength to help patients in transferring them to and from dental chairs, to do tasks while standing or sitting for several hours, and to carry out CPR.

Soft Skills

• Communication Skills: You need to interact effectively with others in the National Languages of Canada (English and/or French). You also need to be able to correctly transfer data obtained from the patient, read and understand technical and professional information, and to show respect, empathy, and confidentiality when talking to patients, the family, staff, and peers.
• Conceptual, Intellectual& Cognitive Skills: You have to be able to tell the difference between normal and abnormal to succeed as a dental hygienist. You need a sufficient understanding of issues, analysis evaluation and skills to solve problems.
• Professional Attitudes: You must have a professional look when you are considering opening your dental clinic. You must be able to demonstrate versatility, adaptability, and physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. You must be honest, ethical and accountable to patients.