# What can a dental hygienist or therapist do?

Source: https://thelocaldentist.co.uk/answers/what-can-a-dental-hygienist-or-therapist-do/
Updated: 2026-07-15

## Quick answer

Dental hygienists scale and polish teeth, treat gum disease, apply fluoride and sealants, and give oral-health advice. Dental therapists do all of that plus fillings, pulp treatment, and extracting baby teeth. Both are GDC-registered, and you can usually book either directly without seeing a dentist first.

## Key facts

- Hygienists: scale and polish, gum (periodontal) treatment, fluoride varnish and sealants, oral-health advice, impressions, and whitening only on a dentist's prescription
- Therapists: everything a hygienist does, plus fillings, pulp treatment, and extraction of baby (primary) teeth — a hygienist cannot do fillings
- Many professionals are dual-qualified as both a hygienist and a therapist
- Direct access (since 2013): you can book a hygienist or therapist for most of their scope without seeing a dentist first
- Tooth whitening always needs a dentist's prescription, whoever carries it out
- Every title — dentist, therapist, hygienist, nurse, technician — is GDC-registered and protected; check at gdc-uk.org

Editorial content from The Local Dentist — not clinical advice.