The employment of dental hygienists in European countries: Report of a European Dental Hygienists Federation/European Association of Dental Public Health Survey in 2021.

Aim: This survey aimed to investigate a range of topics relating to the employment of dental hygienists in European countries, whose National Dental Hygienists Associations (NDHAs) were members of the EDHF.

Methods: During 2020/2021, an online questionnaire and participant information leaflet were distributed by email in each of the 24 countries, whose NDHA is a member of the EFDH or to an EADPH member who was likely to respond.

Results: The broad term employment of dental hygienists was taken to include current numbers, place of work (public or private clinics and other locations), whether they were currently working as dental hygienists, their pay, any planned changes in their employment and their participation in continuing education. Twenty-four countries (92%) responded. Hungary and Poland reported that fewer than 35% of their qualified dental hygienists were working as dental hygienists. In 10 countries, often for family reasons, over 40% worked part-time. In 14 countries, over 70% worked in private clinics. Average annual pay ranged from €8400 in public clinics in Poland to €106,000 in dental hygienist-owned clinics in Denmark Regular participation in continuing education was mandatory in only nine countries.

Conclusions: Dental hygienists play a different role within the oral healthcare system in each European country. There is a wide variation in their education, places of employment, annual pay and continuing education requirements.