Learn Exactly What a Dental Hygienist is and How They Could Help You
A dental hygienist is a member of the healthcare team that possesses a professional license and works in conjunction with a patient’s dentist to provide dental care and assist in the creation of a treatment plan for dental care.
Before being able to take their clinical and board tests, a dental hygienist will need to have finished either two or four years of college-level education. When a dental hygienist has obtained their professional license, the primary emphasis of their practice will be on preventive dental care.
However, depending on the state in which they are licensed to operate, dental hygienists may or may not provide the full scope of dental treatments. Each state has its own set of regulations governing the practice of hygiene, which specify the hygienist’s permitted duties and responsibilities. They have received education and training that focuses on the prevention of oral diseases as well as the specific treatment of a variety of oral conditions.
Jobs dental hygienists perform
The primary focuses of the services provided by dental hygienists are the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease and the provision of preventative dental care. The following are examples of the dental work that they might do for their patients. When a patient goes to the dentist, the dentist will review the patient’s oral history and examine the patient’s current oral health issues.
Other duties might include performing X-rays and processing them so that a dentist can interpret them later, providing patients with advice on how to practice good oral hygiene and answering any queries they might have about dental procedures they are about to undergo, putting dental sealants on the teeth of the patient, and taking dental impressions of the patient’s teeth and mouth to be used for diagnostic purposes.
Non-surgical periodontal therapy is an important function that a hygienist is responsible for performing. Periodontal therapy includes procedures such as scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar buildup, as well as periodontal charting, which examines the condition of the teeth for indications of disease.
During scaling and root planing, the root surfaces of the teeth are cleaned so that plaque and tartar may be removed from deep within the periodontal pockets and bacterial toxins can be cleaned up. The progression of the disease can be slowed down and stopped entirely with proper scaling and root planning. Your dental hygienist should be seen on a regular basis in order to maintain a healthy smile.
Differences between the responsibilities of dentists and dental hygienists
Your dentist has received extensive training in all facets of general dentistry and may additionally specialize in a particular dental procedure. However, the dentist typically defers to a dental hygienist for the performance of preventative care. This allows the dentist to concentrate on more difficult and specialized dental operations that the hygienist is unable to execute.
Attending routine dental checkups with your dentist and having your teeth cleaned on a regular basis by a qualified dental hygienist will help discover potential dental issues before they become serious. When you are ready to schedule your appointment, please call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161.
