Dental Hygienist Essay

Dental Hygienist

There are three major roles taking part in the today's dental offices and they are the dentist, the dental hygienist, and the dental assistant. Each role is equally important to helping the patient receive good oral care but the role that you will learn about is the role of a dental hygienist. As Miguel de Cervantes says, "every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond."

Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases that both protect teeth and gums, and also to protect patients' total health. They are graduates of accredited dental hygiene education programs in colleges and universities, and must take a written national board examination and a clinical

examination before they are licensed to practice. In addition to treating patients directly, dental hygienists may also work as educators, researchers, and administrators. Along with working in these offices dental hygienists express the importance of oral health to their patients as component to their physical health and well-being. the ADHA expresses that, "oral diseases, which range from dental cavities to more widespread infections, are problematic for millions of Americans and lead to serious consequences, including complications of major chronic conditions, debilitating pain, absenteeism from work and school, nutrition issues, loss of teeth, impacts on children’s growth and social development, adverse pregnancy outcomes, inefficient use of emergency department services, and even death." (ADA.com)
As oral diseases increased so did the need for dental hygienist.

Dental hygienist jobs have become one of the fastest growing occupations, with the growing population and increase in the elderly, the need for dental hygienists has become much greater. In the typical dentists office dental hygienists have many responsibilities, which include but aren't limited to teaching clients how important it is to maintain good oral hygiene and instructing them on the principles of preventive oral care. Dental Hygienists also help demonstrate to patients, typically younger, how to brush and floss their teeth correctly, how to select the correct type of toothbrush for their teeth and analyze patients' diets and counsel them on how to eat right to maintain good dental and gum health. While dental hygienists duties may vary from state to state due to state laws, most typically perform the same tasks which include examining the teeth and gums for any disease or abnormalities, taking medical and dental histories, and charting the condition of the client's teeth. Hygienists also clean, polish, inspect for cavities and loose fillings, look for cracks in teeth and remove plaque and tartar from teeth. They also remove hard and soft deposits from teeth and apply sealants to teeth. They administer anesthetics, take and develop X-rays, mix dental cements, and prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic test for the dentist to

interpret.
Other responsibilities of the dental hygienist include making impressions of teeth to use as models to help explain oral hygiene and taking the patients blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer.

According to the American Dental Hygienist Association, "the dental hygienist must also perform oral health care exams, that include reviewing patients' health history, dental charting, oral cancer screening, and evaluating gum disease/health; expose, process, and interpret dental x-rays; remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line using dental instruments; apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and sealants to the teeth; administer local anesthetic and/or nitrous oxide painkiller; educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums; counsel patients about plaque control and developing individualized at-home oral hygiene programs; administer smoking cessation programs; and counsel patients on the importance of good nutrition for maintaining optimal oral health."(ADHA.com)There are so many responsibilities that the dental hygienist must take and that is why they play such a vital role in the dental

setting.
As a dental hygienist takes on these responsibilities and educates themselves, the average dental hygienist earns a salary of approximately $37,545 to $50,543 a year (Salary.com). This is a decent living in consideration to the amount of education required which is between 2-3 years. With more education comes a larger pay. Some dental hygienist at best can earn up to $97,390 depending on their extent of education and knowledge in the field.
In conclusion, after doing research on dental hygiene, it is found to be good career choice to enter into because I’ve always wanted to be a dental hygienists. It’s also a good job for me because I like people and I like helping them. Another reason this would be a good career for those with great hand-eye coordination and good people skills. Although though hand-eye coordination and people skills are important, the job of being a dental hygienist takes a lot of time and schooling but can led to a great future when you're willing to put in the work.