A dental hygienist is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. The main job of a dental hygienist is to remove soft and hard plaque deposits from their patient’s teeth. A dental hygienist is also responsible for teaching patients about good oral hygiene practices, examining gums and teeth and recording the presence of any abnormalities.

A dental hygienist will attend school for at least 2 years. At schools, dental hygiene subjects will focus on biology, microbiology, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology. They are also exposed to combination of laboratory, clinical, and classroom settings to enhance the learning and experiential potential of the students. Upon completing their education, a dental hygienist is required to pass n All dental hygienists must be licensed by their practicing state. The requirements for license and examination include successful completion of an accredited dental hygienist program and the passing of a written and a clinical examination.

Whether you’re exploring a career or an experienced practitioner, the dental hygiene profession can provide many satisfying opportunities, including: being a licensed health care professional, the rewards of keeping people healthy, a flexible work schedule, a variety of professional settings, the opportunity to work nationwide or abroad, pleasant surroundings, career potential, attractive income and professional stability

A dental hygienist uses a variety of tools to perform their job duties. They use hand, ultrasonic devices to remove the soft or hard plaque. A dental hygienist may be able to use syringes and administer anesthetics for oral surgery, shape fillings, do temporary fillings and even smooth and polish metal restorations and that is only according to protocols.

And same with everybody in a medical health profession, they also focus into these five basic principles:

  1. Assessment – This area compasses, but is not limited to, a full review of the patient’s medical history, necessary x-rays to be taken, a clinical exam, and a periodontal assessment by probing and exploring areas of the patients mouth. During this stage a thorough documentation must be implemented by obtaining subjective and objective data.
  2. Diagnosis – Assessing of data pertaining to a client’s condition/state in terms that will help identify and conclude problems that has exacerbated so as to lead to a professional treatment plan and treatment. The final diagnosis of disease and treatments solely lies with judgment and approval granted by the dentist.
  3. Planning – This process is to make a sequential treatment plan for the patient. The treatment plan will vary based on the patient’s immediate needs.
  4. Implementation – Carrying out the plan timely and effectively while keeping a strong data base.
  5. Evaluation – Determining the effectiveness of the treatment plan that was administered. If ineffective a complete evaluation on how to approach the patient’s needs individually and differently.

Since the focus of a dental hygienists job is prevention and health teaching, then it should be emphasized that dental hygiene should be taken seriously. As they say, prevention is better than cure. The more efficient the dental hygienist is in their cleaning, the better off the patient is in the long run and surely will provide dental experience satisfaction.