Monday, January 2, 2012

The Dental Hygienist is the Right Arm of the Dentist

By Richard Greene


A lot of people think of a dental hygienist is simply being a maintenance assistant in a dental clinic. However it really is an important position period for instance, one of the main duties of a dental hygienist is to fully prepare an individual's teeth so the dentist can treat the patient more easily.

This is a vital part of a patient's dental care, and makes for a healthier outcome once the work is performed.

Dental Patient Education

One of the most important parts of the assistant position is to educate patients on how to maintain their teeth to reduce the amount of corrective dental work they will need. This includes pointing out why their teeth may be in a condition necessitating the need for dental work and what they can do to prevent extensive dental work in the future.

Most the time a dental hygienist works in a private practice setting, but there are also openings available in public clinics, hospitals, research facilities, and dental schools. Depending on which state the dental hygienist is working in, the scope of work allowed to be performed will vary substantially.

Job Roles for a Dental Hygienist

Additional dental hygienist roles in certain states include:

* Providing anesthetics to individuals

* Polishing and smoothing metal restorations

* Removing or placing filling materials, including temporary ones

* Preparation of lab and diagnostic tests for evaluation by the dentist

In most American states, the hygienist responsibilities include:

* Assembling information and past medical history from the files of patients

* Giving the patient an initial examination to identify current issues and look for abnormal dental situations or potential problems

* Making dental molds

* Taking and reading dental x-rays

* Teaching proper dental health procedures to people

* Placing preventative sealants or fluoride on an invidual's teeth

* Cleaning the indvidual's teeth of tartar, stains, and plaque

Dental Hygienist Education Requirements

Education for a dental hygienist position can typically be acquired at most community colleges or technical schools and consists of an Associates Degree. Another option for dental hygiene is a four-year degree from an accredited college, which ends up in getting a bachelors degree. The curriculum and a bachelor degree will give you more instruction in nutrition, psychology, speech and English, along with the humanities.

After one graduates, dental hygiene applicants then must pass a written along with a clinical examination for whichever state they want to practice. Most states require passing their own exam along with the standard National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

As you can see, the dental hygienist is a lot more than just an assistant at a dental practice smiling at you when you come in. This position is crucial to the success of a dental practice.




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