What is a Dental Hygienist

There are many careers that fall under dentistry. One of these careers is that of a dental hygienist.
A dental hygienist is actually an oral health well being practitioner that supports the dentist in a dental practice. The primary role he plays is a preventive role in that he teaches patients good oral hygiene. By teaching men and women the best way to keep their teeth and gums clean and patients avoid much more serious dental procedures and treatments.
The teaching may perhaps incorporate showing patients the way to brush or floss their teeth, the varieties of toothbrushes to make use of, as well as explain the significance of a diet plan as it relates to oral well being. Besides teaching patients proper dental hygiene, a dental hygienist's duties and responsibilities will usually include:
1. Teeth cleaning to get rid of soft and hard deposits on the teeth. These deposits might be plaque and/or tartar.
2. Taking dental pictures with an x-ray machine. The hygienist may also process and interpret the x-rays.
3. Preparing and administering clinical and laboratory tests for the dentist to evaluate in order to make a diagnosis. The dental hygienist will in some cases step in and make the diagnosis.
4. Applying cavity preventative treatments like fluorides, varnishes as well as pit and fissure sealants.
5. Assessment of a patient's oral well being. This is done by examining teeth and gums, looking to discover any disease or abnormalities. The evaluation may contain taking important signs, saliva testing and oral cancer screening.
6. Carry out root planning and scaling for non-surgical periodontal disease treatment.
7. Teeth polishing.
Hygienists carry out other duties but this can depend on the State they are licensed to practice in. The duties that vary from State to State are:
1. Administering anesthetic injections.
2. Removing surgical sutures.
3. Placing post-surgical dressings and removing them.
A dental hygienist will function hand in hand with a dentist in determining treatment for patients.
A career as a dental hygienist is something to look into. Besides it being a worthwhile career, a dental hygienist salary is above average.

There are many dental hygienist programs offered at community colleges, dental schools and universities. If interested in becoming licensed as a dental hygienist you should make sure to attend a program which is accredited by the Commission on Dental accreditation. You'll find over 300 accredited dental hygienist programs in the United States. To practice, your are required to have at least an associate degree or a certificate in dental hygiene.

It is also possible to get a bachelor's or master's degree in dental hygiene. It is essential to note that a dental hygienist salary doesn't necessarily depend on education level. In some cases, it is feasible for an associate degree holder and a bachelor's degree holder to earn the exact same salary. However, generally the higher your education the higher your dental hygienist salary.