DENTAL HYGIENIST

Brisbane Smile Boutique in Spring Hill, Brisbane, is thrilled to welcome Heidi to our team as our Dental Hygienist and Oral Health Therapist. With 7 years of professional experience, Heidi Van Den Borst brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our practice. A graduate of the University of Otago, she holds her registration with AHPRA, ensuring the highest standard of care for our patients.

Heidi is dedicated to excellence in preventive dentistry, and her skills extend to providing exceptional services in Zoom teeth whitening, Invisalign experience and children's dentistry. Her holistic approach to oral health aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing comprehensive dental care.

Available on Thursdays, Heidi collaborates closely with our experienced female dentists, Dr Leila Haywood and Dr Rachel Chamberlain, to offer a personalised and gentle dental experience. We are excited for our patients to benefit from Heidi's dedication to oral health and her ability to enhance the smiles and well being of our community.

What is an oral health therapist?

An Oral Health Therapist (OHT) in Queensland is a dental professional who is dual qualified in dental therapy and dental hygiene. They are registered dental practitioners and provide a wide range of oral health care services. Their scope of work includes providing oral health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, management, and preventive services for children and adolescents. If they have received additional training, they can also offer these services to adults of all ages. Moreover, OHTs may deliver dental hygiene services to patients across all age groups. Their role encompasses conducting oral examinations, diagnosing oral diseases, creating treatment plans, performing X-rays and other diagnostic tests, placing dental fillings, extracting deciduous teeth, as well as cleaning, polishing, and scaling teeth. They also apply preventive treatments like fissure sealants and fluoride, provide dietary counselling, and engage in oral health promotion and education for both groups and the wider community.

Oral health therapists are seen as integral members of the dental team, particularly for their role in preventive care and their ability to work in collaboration with dentists and specialists to provide comprehensive oral health services. This collaborative approach is considered best practice, enhancing the utilization of OHTs' full range of skills and making their work more fulfilling. The emphasis on team-based care is aligned with the structured professional relationship guidelines in Australia, which advocate for a collaborative model in the delivery of dental services.

For those interested in pursuing a career as an oral health therapist in Queensland, qualifications typically involve completing a relevant university degree and obtaining registration with the Dental Board of Australia.