As a dental hygienist, you'll be a licensed oral health professional who focuses on preventing and treating oral diseases. Your aim is to protect teeth and gums, and also to protect patients' total health.
An accredited dental hygiene program can prepare you to take written and clinical exams you need to pass before you can practice.
What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
Your duties will vary by state. They may include:- Performing oral health care assessments that include reviewing patients' health history, dental charting, oral cancer screening, and taking and recording blood pressure.
- Exposing, processing, and interpreting dental x-rays;
- Removing plaque and calculus (tartar)-soft and hard deposits-from above and below the gumline.
- Applying cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and sealants to the teeth.
- Teaching patients proper oral hygiene techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
- Counseling patients about plaque control and developing individualized at-home oral hygiene programs.
- Counseling patients on the importance of good nutrition for maintaining optimal oral health.
Where Does a Dental Hygienist Work?
According to the American Dental Hygienists Association, a dental hygienist degree can prepare you to work as a clinician, educator, researcher, administrator, manager, preventive program developer, consumer advocate, sales and marketing manager, editor, and consultant.People with training as a clinical dental hygienist may work in a variety of health care settings such as private dental offices, schools, public health clinics, hospitals, managed care organizations, correctional institutions, or nursing homes.
