Good oral hygiene is the best way to make sure you keep your teeth and gums healthy. Dental hygienists work directly under the supervision of a licensed dentist to provide the best care possible.
What does a dental hygienist do?
A dental hygienist is the professional that you will see for your regular cleanings at your dentist’s office. They will clean your teeth, take X-rays, and do cancer screenings. Your dental hygienist is also the person who will help diagnose periodontal disease and recommend treatment. They are your initial contact for dental treatment and will help keep your medical records up-to-date to make sure that your medical history and medications are current.
Hygiene schedules are usually separate from the dentist’s schedule, so the hygienist is able to care for their own patient while the dentist is tending to someone else. Most of the time, your dentist will pop in to do an exam during your hygiene appointment when they have a break between patients.
Dental hygienists utilize a number of tools to clean your teeth and help educate you on the best way to manage your oral care at home. Hygienists are also a great ally for education when you have a small child who is learning to perform oral care on their own.
Additionally, most hygienists are licensed to administer local anesthetics for scaling and routine cleaning and other treatments.
What education do dental hygienists receive?
Persons looking to be a dental hygienist must have a high school diploma or equivalent with high grades in health, math, chemistry, and biology in order to apply to hygiene school.
Accredited hygiene programs are offered at community colleges, universities, and vocational schools. The student may obtain a degree in dental hygiene at the level of associate’s, bachelor’s, or even a master’s degree. Most courses required for dental hygiene programs include anatomy and physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical sciences.
At the end of the program, students must pass a comprehensive written test from the National Board of Dental Hygiene to become a licensed dental hygienist. This exam assesses the students’ knowledge of facts relating to dental hygiene as well as scientific principles. The student is asked to evaluate charts and photographs of different case studies to determine the appropriate treatment path.
Once they pass the national exam, they are required to pass a regional exam for their local license. This is a more hands-on exam, requiring the student to demonstrate their clinical skills. There is an actual patient present for the student to perform a cleaning.
In order to work in the United States as a dental hygienist, a student must receive their license from the state in which they will practice. Most states require graduation from an accredited degree program as well as a passing grade on both the national exam and state exam.
Dental hygienists are highly educated and also attend continuing education courses throughout their career in order to keep up with best practices and current technology.
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