Information to work in this country is available from:

STRAT/STHF Box 1419 111 84 Stockholm Visiting address: Malmskillnadsgatan 48 Tel: +46-8-4424460 · Fax: +46-8-4424480 www.tandhygienistforening.se · sthf@srat.se

Procedures and/or documents that are necessary to be able to work in this country:

Hygienists must send a copy of their diploma or certificate with a copy of their curriculumto the licensing body. If training is considered equivalent to that in Sweden, permission is given to practice. Some applicants may need to take a course to meet the requirements. Dental Hygienist education programs are available at eight schools: Karolinska Institutet – Stockholm and at the universities of Gothenburg, Karlstad, Falun, Jönköping, Umeå, Kristianstad and Malmö. www.studera.nu

Official licensing body in the country:

National Board of Health and Welfare BU enheten, 10630 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46-75-2473000 www.sos.se

Special conditions that may apply for hygienists that obtain employment:

Hygienists that are accepted and licensed, may work without supervision. Hygienists accepted and not licensed, may work with supervision.

Contact for Work Permit and/or Visa:

The Swedish Embassy/Consulate in the country of residence.

Is a job offer required before a Work Permit/Visa is issued?

Not if the applicant is from the EU or the Nordic countries. Not if the applicant has a close relative living in Sweden and requires a resident permit. Not when the applicant requires a resident permit for studies. Yes, if the applicant is not from the EU or Nordic countries and requires a work permit.

Main local and/or official language(s):

Swedish and Finnish. It is necessary to be fluent in Swedish. Hygienists may be asked to sit a national test in Swedish.

Are hygienists qualified overseas required to sit the country's national examination?

No.

Information on the local working environment:

Full time work consists of 40 hours per week. 55% of hygienists work in the public sector, 42% work in the private sector. 3% are independent practitioners.

Standard tasks that hygienists are allowed to undertake in the country:

Examination of patient Recording and interpretation of oral health status Treatment planning regarding dental hygiene Preventive oral health information and motivation Preventive and therapeutic measures including fluoride and anti-microbial agents, fissure sealants Sub and supra gingival scaling, polishing Local anaesthesia Development and application of health programmes for all ages A competence description for a Registered Dental Hygienist is available to download from: http://www.tandhygienistforening.se/fileadmin/Documents/Comp._Description_for_Reg._D_H..pdf

Further information:

Job opportunities are fairly good at present and in the near future we can’t see that it will change.

Country Statistics

Total Population 9,000,000 Number of Dental Hygienists, Female / Male 3,600 / 55 Number of Dentists 7,200 Number of Dental Hygiene Schools / Students per year 8 / 200 Practicing Dental Hygienists: Full-time / Part-time 3,000 / 600 Dental Hygienists in private sector / public sector 1,400 / 2,160 Number of Dental Hygienists practicing as Clinicians 3490 Number of Dental Hygienists practicing as Educators 60 Hygienists practicing as Administrators and/or Consultants 50 Number of Dental Hygienists in other practice settings 250, independent clinicians

Information based on data received by IFDH in:

2009

NOTE: The information provided above is for general guidance only. The International Federation of Dental Hygienists advises all hygienists to contact the country's relevant licensing bodies and agencies for current information and regulations. Search the database:

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