There are more than 150,000 registered dental hygienists in the United States (Callahan). Hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases-both to 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 (Bessner).
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine gums and teeth for signs of oral disease, educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health, and provide other necessary dental care. Specific duties of a dental hygienist include the application of sealants and fluoride to help protect teeth, removal of tartar stains and plaque
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from teeth, examination of dental x-rays, and documentation of patient care and treatment plans. Dental hygienist use a variety of tools to do their job. They use a powered device that contains a combination of air, water, and baking soda to remove stains. Hygienists polish teeth with a tool that works like an automatic toothbrush. They also take x-rays to check for tooth or jaw problems. In addition to cleaning teeth, they give advice to patients on what type of toothbrushes and toothpaste they should use. Other hygienist tasks may vary by state. For example, some states allow hygienists to place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Hygienists held about 192,800 jobs in 2012 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Most dental hygienists work closely with dentist and dental assistants in dentists’ offices. To protect themselves and patients, hygienists wear safety glasses, gloves, and surgical masks while working on teeth and follow strict procedures while taking x-rays. The career offers a flexible schedule and can be worked part time or full time. However, more than half of dental hygienist work part time. Dentists often hire hygienists to work only a few days a week, so many hygienists work for more than one dentist. The key benefit to working only part time is it allows extra time for other activities, such as family gatherings, while still earning a comfortable salary. The typical education needed to become a dental hygienist is an associate’s degree in dental hygiene and a license in dental hygiene.
A bachelor’s degree is usually required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public health programs (Bureau of Labor Statistics). High school students’ interested in becoming dental hygienist should take biology, mathematics, and chemistry classes. Some dental hygiene programs require applicants to have completed at least one year of college before being accepted into the program, as well as an entrance exam. Most colleges offer clinical, laboratory, and classroom instruction. While pursuing an associate’s degree, a student must complete a certain number of hours in a dental office, which is usually done under the supervision of a licensed dental hygienist or a dentist. Hygienist also study anatomy, physiology, nutrition, radiography, and periodontology while in the dental program. After completing college level classes a hygienist must pass the state or regional exam to receive their
licensure. The qualities needed to become a superior dental hygienist consist of compassion, precision, dexterity, interpersonal skills, and physical stamina. Sometimes patients are in extreme pain or have fears about undergoing dental work, so the hygienist must be compassionate to their emotions. They must also follow specific rules and protocols to help dentists diagnose and treat a patient, so they need to be very precise. Dexterity means they need to be capable of working with their hands. They generally work in tight quarters on a small part of the body, using very precise tools and instruments. Hygienist must work closely with dentists and patients, which means they should have interpersonal skills. Lastly, they must have excellent physical stamina because they bend over patients for long periods of time throughout the work day. The median annual wage for dental hygienists is $70,210. The average hourly pay is $33.75 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Some dental hygienist receive benefits, such as vacation, sick leave, and contribution to their retirement fund. However, benefits vary by employer and may be available only to full-time workers. Similar occupations related to dental hygiene include dental assistants, dental lab technicians, orthodontists, and dentists. Dental assistants receive an annual wage about $34,500, dental lab technicians receive $36,090, orthodontist receive $112,775, and dentist receive $149,310 (Jones). As dentist’s practices expand, the employment of dental hygienist is projected to rise 33% from 2012 to 2025 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). That percentage is much faster than the average for all other occupations. Research suggests oral health is linked to general health, which will spur the need for more dental services. The need to treat and maintain healthy teeth will continue the need for dental hygienist. The federal health legislation is expected to expand the number of patients who have access to dental insurance, which will result in a greater demand in dental hygienist. Also, the job market for dental hygienist is likely booming due to patients becoming more aware of their overall health. Oral health is linked to the body’s overall health. Some studies point to a reciprocal relationship between gum disease and diabetes. “When you treat and control diabetes, immediately the condition in the mouth improves. And when you treat periodontal disease, the need for insulin is reduced," Amar says (Bratcher). Overall, dental hygienist are licensed oral health professionals that graduated from accredited dental hygiene programs in college to focus on preventing and treating oral diseases-both to protect teeth and gums, and also to protect patients’ total health (Bessner). It is a thriving career that offers a flexible lifestyle, a competitive salary with an Associate degree, and the ability to help people live healthier lives.
A dental hygienist is a very important role in any dental office. As stated by a dental assistant, “Dental hygienists work closely with the dentist as well as hands on with the patients. They assist dentists with operative procedures such as fillings and extractions, and making molds of patients teeth” (Wilson, Jennifer). A large part of their job is teaching patients proper dental care to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth. This includes proper brushing and flossing techniques. According to the job out look, a day as a dental hygienist can include taking x-rays, cleaning and scaling teeth, charting treatment plans, putting sealants on teeth, taking impressions of teeth and completing information about the patient’s oral and medical history (Summary). In some states dental hygienist are allowed to give local anesthetic and place and remove sutures (Delivering Local Anesthetic). According to advantages of becoming a dental hygienist, hygienists spend more hands on time with the patients than the dentist does. These are some of the instruments that dental hygienists use on a daily basis: toothbrush, scaler, mirror, ultrasonic scaler, explorer, suction, computer, salvia ejector, rubber cap polisher, dental models, x-ray machine and probe. The dental hygienist uses a toothbrush to remove soft plaque from the teeth. Plaque is a soft coating on the teeth that contain bacteria. The bacteria can cause tooth decay and gum disease. The amount of plaque on the teeth gives the hygienist an idea of how well the daily brushing and flossing of the patient’s teeth are completed on a regular basis. The scaler is used to remove hardened plaque or calculus from the teeth. The mirror is used to look closely at the surfaces of the teeth a...
Some people tend to believe that a dentist is all about pulling teeth, filling gaps, and drilling holes in a mouth. That may be true, but this is more about the person that treats a patient prior to a dentist drilling into a mouth. Dental Hygienists provide more than just the basic examination. They also give advice on how to properly brush and floss, the types of foods to avoid, and give examples of what teeth could look like if not taken care of correctly. A dental hygienist provides preventive, therapeutic, restorative and educational interventions to promote optimal oral health.
They then should look over the charts at the patient’s situation with their teeth and see what medical treatment they need. They then bring the patient in and perform the treatment. Lastly, they charge the patient for the certain treatments, like the cleaning, and then for say a filling, they will charge them separately, and then the patient will leave. Soon after, they will start all over again. Furthermore, there are a lot of skills required to be a Dental Hygienist, but yet simple ones.
The Healthcare Professional that I chose is a Dental Assistant. The reason why I chose to use a dental assistant as the Healthcare Professional was because I think that they are very important along with the dentists. Without dental assistants, dentist’s jobs would be more stressful than it already is in their job. Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care are valuable members of the dental care team.
When most people think of dental hygienists, the first and only thing they think about it cleaning and whitening teeth. However, that is mainly what dental hygienists do, but they also learn to do a lot more than that. According the occupational outlook handbook, hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health. As explained on American Dental Association, the dental hygienist...
The best description of a dental hygienist is a professional whose main job is to teach their patients necessary oral hygiene skills and provide great dental care. They perform various tasks around a dentist’s office such as applying fluoride treatments, removing plaque and stains, taking x-rays, removing sutures, placing temporary fillings, and evaluating the patient’s overall health (“Dental Hygienist” Coin Career). Dental hygienists do not just work in a dental office, but they also can work at schools, nursing homes, health clinics, and many other dental settings. Close contact is necessary when doing this job. Working with people is an everyday thing in this profession, so one must be able to communicate and get along with their clients very well. Having certain traits such as excellent hand-eye coordination and great motor skills are very important to posses since dental hygienists work on their patients mouths (Porterfield 4). Communication is vital since dental hygienists are constantly teaching patients how to hav...
As a future dental hygienist, I want to be able to help educate people about dental hygiene, prevent cancers and help rural communities overcome oral diseases and cancers. Dental Hygienist usually work in dentist office's, some of the responsibilities of a dental hygienist are removing tarter, stains and plaque from teeth, they take dental x-rays and access patient oral health and report findings to the dentist.
It’s been a long time since the last narrative and a lot has changed. The internship with the dental hygienist failed miserably. After three sessions, my mentor just stopped communicating and cut all ties with me. I attempted to email her multiple times but I remained unheard. So, I had to find a way to troubleshoot and look for another mentor and place to intern at.
The education requirements vary depending where you are, but typically it vary from a high school diploma to the completion of a postsecondary training program. There are no formal education requirements for entering this career and some high school students have even went from their diploma straight to on-the-job training. Although, postsecondary dental assisting programs offer more comprehensive career training. Dental assisting programs are typically 1-year diploma or certificate programs that tend to focus more on technical training through classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction. Some community colleges also offer 2-year associate's degree programs which combine general education, technical training, and more extensive clinical practicums. Licensure and/or certification might be required by some states. Some states allow dental assistants to perform all duties assigned by a dentist but in other states they must obtain licensure or registration to perform certain duties. Obtaining the licensure vary in states as well. Some may include completing an accredited postsecondary program or may have to pass a written or practical exam, which could be required. Most dental assistants maintain licensure by earning continuing education at state-specified intervals. To get the certification, The Dental Assisting National Board offers the Certified Dental Assistant (CDA®) certification which was
The total credit hours include The Dental Hygiene Program. After completing the perquisites and the program, I will graduate with an Associate Degree in Applied Science. The next objective will next be to become certified as a dental hygienist. This is completed by taking state and certifying examinations. Training usually includes one to two years, including being on the job experience and informal training. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, skills necessary are interpersonal skills, physical stamina, dexterity, detail oriented and compassion. It is only recommended that a student should at least major in an Associate Degree in Applied Science. A student can also acquire a bachelor’s degree, but it is not necessary for this career. It is recommended to acquire this degree if the student is planning on branching away from dental
I was able to experience some pretty amazing things that caught my attention before knowing I wanted to become a dental assistant. I never truly understood what all is involved in the dental world until I found myself in it and learned the importance of it! It takes great patience and understanding! But at what point did I really realize I wanted to do it? What got me hooked?
Assisting the dentist in everything from patient relations to a wide variety of dental treatments and procedures.
As I started my new journey of becoming a dental hygienist, I came into the program with no background of dental. I came into this program with an open mind and willing to embrace new concepts as well as develop new skills. During my time at the Canadian Academy of Dental Hygiene (CADH), I learned that as a dental hygienist that I am committed to promoting and helping each individual achieve their optimal oral health goals. In support of my client’s goals, I may assume any or all of the roles included in the dental hygiene scope of practice. My goal throughout this program was to help my clients achieve their optimal oral health goals through education, health promotion and providing preventive and clinical therapy.
Having shadowed a dental hygienist prior to that of a dental assistant I didn’t know what to expect their job to be. Although I did assume a dental assistant’s job consisted of handing instruments to the doctor during the various procedures so I was surprised to see just how many responsibilities they have. Each dental clinic has different expectations of what they require their dental assistant to do in my shadowing experience they were responsible for: preparing the room prior to the patients arrival, greeting the patient upon arrival and inviting them into the operation room, confirming dental history with the patient, briefing them on the procedure they are about to have and what to expect, answering the clients questions to the best of their abilities, assisting the doctor in the procedure and aiding with any tasks required of you, when the patient is ready to leave helping them to look presentable and explaining what to expect after that kind of procedure, updating and verifying dental records, and sanitizing and sterilization of the room and all instruments after departure of
They are needed to get all of the tools out and ready and put covers on the tools that they will be using on the teeth, and they have to put the bib on the patient so nothing gets on them while they are working. Then when the dentist comes in they tell the patient what they will be doing to the patient to make sure that's okay that they do that. Finally they go to work on the patient's mouth and the dental assistant assists the dentist at chairside during the treatment and hands them the tools when he needs them.