Dental Hygienist Schools

These days, people are learning about the importance of oral hygiene and how crucial it is to a person’s overall health. This is the reason why the dental hygienist career is steadily booming. A dental hygienist, also called an oral hygienist, is a licensed dental professional specializing in preventive oral health. They are trained to focus on techniques to perform oral hygiene procedures.

The scope of practice of a dental hygienist is determined by the local dental regulations or the State in which they practice their profession. Most hygienists work for a dentist as an assistant. Some are licensed to administer local anesthesia.

The usual procedures performed by a dental hygienist include cleaning of the teeth and gums, scaling and root planning, diagnosing for periodontal disease, taking dental x-rays, applying dental sealants, administering fluoride and instructing patients on proper oral hygiene.

5 steps on dental hygiene process of care

A dental hygienist usually follows 5 steps for the process of dental hygiene care.

1) Assessment of the patient
Dental hygienists are trained to diagnose a patient’s oral health by reviewing a patient’s medical history, a clinical oral exam, and through dental x-rays. A thorough documentation of the results is also implemented during assessment.

2) Dental diagnosis
After gathering all the data during assessment, the client’s oral health state is now identified. The final diagnosis of the disease should be granted approval by a doctor or dentist.

3) Planning
The treatment plan for the patient’s oral problem is formulated in coordination with the dentist.

4) Implementation
Implementing a treatment procedure in a timely and effective manner to address the patient’s oral problem.

5) Evaluation
Determining the effectiveness of the treatment plan and assessment if further procedure is needed as the patient’s condition changes.

Becoming a dental hygienist

The requirements to become a dental hygienist are different in every State. In the United States, you must graduate from an associate degree, a certificate course or a bachelor’s degree. For career advancement, you can continue with a master’s degree from a reputable dental hygienist school accredited by the American Dental Association.

All dental hygienists need to pass a written and clinical exam before they are granted a license to practice. All dental hygienists in the United States must be licensed by the State in which they practice.