Dental Hygienist Essay

A nurse is someone that is trained to manage patient health on individual and population levels. There are many different education levels for nurses, including licensed practical nurse and registered nurse, which requires an associates degree, midwife, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist, which requires a masters degree. Some places nurses may be employed in hospitals, physicians offices, nursing homes and schools. A dental hygienist and nurse may work together when providing dental care to patients in nursing homes or hospitals. A dental hygienist could help a nurse by teaching them how to provide proper dental care to patients. I enjoyed learning how to transfer patients from a wheelchair to a dental chair. There are many patients that

we will see that are in wheelchairs and it is important that we transfer them properly so we do not hurt ourselves or our patients.
Athletic training has been considered an allied health-care profession since 1990.

Their job is to work with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. In order to become an athletic trainer they have to complete a 4 year college degree, 4 semesters of precertification practice with patients and also pass the national Board of Certification exam. Athletic trainers may be employed in schools, hospitals, therapy clinics, rehabilitation centers, assisted living centers, physician offices, sporting facilities and many other places. One example of when an athletic trainer and a dental professional would have to work together is if someone were playing a sport and got hit in the mouth. If it is a severe injury the athletic trainer would not be able to treat this patient by themselves. One of the topics I found interesting that they talked about was the different stretches we could do during our day. Although we can have busy schedules it is important that we take time for ourselves to complete these

stretches.
A clinical laboratory scientist is someone that assists in diagnosing disease by using laboratory tests. These tests are performed on human bodily fluids and tissue to detect any abnormalities or disease. After going to school for 2 years they are considered a clinical laboratory technician and after going to school for 4 years they are considered a clinical laboratory scientist. Once they have completed their degree they must complete their certification or license examination. One scenario when a clinical laboratory scientist and dental professional may have to work together is to test someones saliva. Patients may be at higher risk for caries and periodontal disease due to the make-up of their saliva, so clinical laboratory scientists could test their saliva and see if they are at high risk for these conditions. Something I found interesting during the presentation was that if someone had a lot of food that was high in fat lately they would notice it from their blood.
Occupational therapists work with patients and family members to provide them with skills, knowledge and adaptations in order to live independently.

To become an occupational therapist they must complete their masters or doctorate degree in occupational therapy. There are also occupational therapy assistants, which requires an associates degree. Both of these occupations require fieldwork education and then they are eligible national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Occupational therapists may be employed in hospitals, schools, nursing facilities and outpatient clinics. A situation where a dental hygienist and an occupational therapist may work together is when helping an elderly patient find an oral care routine that works well for them. This could include finding the right kind of toothbrush for them and also a brochure that reminds them to brush and shows them how to brush correctly. Something I found interesting during the presentation was talking about the different types of toothbrush

handles.
Physical therapists work with patients who have limited movement and function due to age, injury, pain, disease, disorders, conditions or environmental factors. The goal is to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and function throughout a patients life. To become a physical therapist they must complete their doctorate degree in physical, to become a physical therapist assistant they must complete their associates degree. Both a physical therapist and physical therapist assistant must pass the national physical therapy examination. Some of the places a physical therapist might work is an acute-care hospital, outpatient clinic, skilled nursing facility, home health and schools. Musculoskeletal disorders are very common for dental hygienists. A dental hygienist could work with a physical therapist to prevent or treat an injury. It was interesting to hear about the stretches she recommended for us, also. These stretches, along with the ones from the athletic training prersentation will help in preventing musculoskeletal disorders.
A physician assistant is someone who is trained to provide healthcare to people of all ages in a wide variety of specialties and settings. In order to become a physicians assistant they must complete their masters degree. They must also pass the physician assisting certifying exam. The most common place for a physicians assistant to work is a primary care office. A dental hygienist might collaborate with a physicians assistant to make sure it is safe to treat a patient with a medical condition, such as high blood pressure. During the presentation, I liked learning about the eye, and how to tell if there is a problem with someones eye.