Last updated July 2026
Written by Dr Sam — practising dentist, Australia, and the clinician behind this directory. About the author →
Hygienists and oral health therapists arguably get the best value from free CPD of anyone in the surgery, because the manufacturer-sponsored education in periodontics and prevention is genuinely strong — biofilm science, instrumentation technique, erosive tooth wear, fluoride and CHX evidence. The skill is curating a mix: it’s easy to accumulate ten hours of product-adjacent prevention content and neglect the periodontal medicine that’s reshaping the profession.
If I were building a hygienist’s free-CPD year, I’d anchor it with the perio-systemic link (diabetes especially, given how often you’ll co-manage those patients), add instrumentation and ultrasonics updates, then round out with communication courses on motivating behaviour change — because the recall conversation, not the scaling, is where most long-term periodontal outcomes are actually decided. Australian OHTs should log it all against their AHPRA cycle as usual.
This guide currently identifies 258 courses using topic-specific relevance rules. 256 are marked as having certificates. Course availability and certificate details can change, so confirm the current information with the provider.
Dental Hygienist education is most useful when it reflects the realities of day-to-day dental practice. For dental hygienists, that usually means practical courses that support prevention, periodontal care, patient education and oral health promotion.
FreeDentalCPD brings together free courses from dental manufacturers, education platforms and professional learning providers, so you can compare available CPD without searching multiple sites individually.
Browse free dental hygienist CPD coursesWhat to look for in dental hygienist CPD
The best course is not always the longest one. A useful course should be relevant to your role, clearly presented, and easy to record for your CPD portfolio.
- Certificate availability
- Relevance to your current role and scope of practice
- Evidence-based and practical content
- Clear learning aims and outcomes
- On-demand access where possible
- Presenter experience and provider reputation
Providers worth checking
The exact courses available change throughout the year. These providers commonly publish education that may be relevant to dental hygienists.
- Colgate Oral Health Network
- Philips Oral Healthcare Learning
- NSK Learning
- Viva Learning
- SDI Learning
- J Morita Learning
How to choose the right course
Start with topics that directly support your everyday responsibilities. Once those foundations are covered, broaden your CPD across communication, compliance, clinical updates and patient-centred care.
It is also worth choosing a mix of short refresher courses and more detailed sessions. This makes it easier to keep learning consistent throughout the year rather than leaving CPD until the last minute.
Latest courses from the directory
- Active Prevention, Advancing Oral Health Protection
- Scaling Up: Solutions for Efficient Patient-Centered Periodontal Care
- Periodontal Maintenance Therapy: When, How and Why
- Medical Protocols for Periodontal Therapy (On-Demand)
- AI: PERIODONTAL CHARTING
- PERIODONTAL INFLAMMATION DISEASE DRIVER
- PERIODONTAL INFLAMMATION RECORDING
- Advanced Instruments for Periodontal Debridement: Creating an Essential Kit
- Implant Health: Protocols, Prevention, and Power Tools for Success
- Advanced Perio Treatment Made Easy and Profitable for the GP and Hygienist
- Empowering Hygienists to be Healthy, Informed, and Efficient
- Prevention - The Base for Good Oral Health and Restorative Success
Showing 12 of 258 relevant courses from the directory. 256 are marked as having certificates. Search the directory for this topic.
Frequently asked questions
Can dental hygienists use free CPD courses?
Yes. Many free courses are relevant to dental hygienists, particularly those covering prevention, periodontal care, radiography, oral health education and patient communication.
Do free hygienist CPD courses provide certificates?
Many providers issue certificates after course completion. Always check that the certificate meets the requirements of your local regulator or employer.
What topics are most useful for dental hygienists?
Periodontal therapy, preventive dentistry, oral hygiene instruction, radiography, smoking cessation, medical histories and patient motivation are particularly useful areas.
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