A dental hygienist is a medical professional who specializes mainly in oral health and hygiene. A hygienist’s duty can be classified under three main categories: pre-procedure, in-office and post-procedure care. They assist both the dentist and the patient as they undergo a step-by-step dental hygiene process.
The very first step involved in the dental hygiene process is patient assessment. The length of this procedure can depend on the patients’ current state of health. Hygienists usually start by reviewing the patient’s medical history and assessing his or her current condition. Dental hygienists also assist the patients when they are required to undergo further tests such as X-rays, when needed.
After assessment, hygienists are also responsible for aiding dentists with the diagnostic process. Diagnosis is a process of identifying the patient’s problems based on the data gathered by the previous procedure. This is very essential for proper treatment to be given. Dental hygienists prepare the necessary tests so that dentists can interpret them later.
After the problem has been identified, dental hygienists see to it that patients have fully understood the treatment plan given to them by the dentist. The treatment will initially depend on the most pressing need of the patient. The dental hygienist is also responsible for ensuring that each patient follow the treatment plan as timely and as effectively as possible.
After the initial visit and treatment, patients are still required to make regular visits to monitor the progress of the treatment plan. If the plan is ineffective, a different approach to the problem and even further tests are done to determine the proper treatment.
Aside from that, dental hygienists are also responsible for aiding in the patient’s preventive dental care. This includes teeth and tongue cleaning, gum care, oral irrigation and many others. Teeth cleaning, one of the most commonly performed dental procedures, involve the removal of plaque and tartar – a very important measure to prevent cavities, gingivitis and tooth loss. These procedures in general are regularly done on patients to avoid the occurrence of more serious dental problems.
The responsibilities that fall under a dental hygienists’ jurisdiction can vary from state to state. Some states in the US allow hygienists to administer anesthetics before surgical procedures, periodontal dressing, filling application, suture removal and other tasks that are usually done solely by the dentists. Some states however do not permit them to do these.
Dental hygienists need to have formal education and training. After this, they are also required to pass a licensure exam to be able to practice their profession legally. Although requirements for the work can vary from country to country or from state to state (in the U.S.), most will require two years of formal education at some sort of dental hygienist school and other science related courses such as anatomy, nutrition, pharmacology and periodontology.
Dental hygienists usually work as part of a team of medical professionals in a dental office. Today, more and more dental hygienists are taking advanced courses and certifications which can take from 4 to 6 years of study. Passing these advanced courses allow them to perform more complex dental procedures and surgeries that they were not allowed to do before.