Dental hygienists are also known as oral health practitioners. They are clinical health care professionals who work within a dental team to help prevent health problems from occurring. Although dental hygienists do play a role in the medical treatment of problems associated with the teeth and gums, their role is more of a preventative one.
A dental hygienist assists in procedures such as cleaning, scraping and polishing the teeth. They may also use topically applied products such as fluoride or sealants. In a hospital, a dental hygienist may help an orthodontist with complex treatments and surgery. As a dental hygienist, there are many places you can choose for a work environment. While the vast majority will work in general dental practices, some will be employed by hospitals and community dentistry practices.
Dental hygienists (sometimes also known as oral health practitioners) are dental care professionals and work as part of the dental team. While dentists concentrate on treating tooth and gum conditions, the dental hygienist has a vital role in helping to prevent problems from arising. As a dental hygienist you would carry out procedures such as scaling and polishing teeth, and applying topical fluoride and fissure sealants. If you are based in a hospital, you would also help patients who are having surgery or complicated orthodontic treatment or those with particular medical conditions to maintain a healthy mouth.
In clinical practice roles, a dental hygienist will usually support the work of a dentist or a specialty dentist. In this career role, a dental hygienist works one-on-one with patients to prevent and treat diseases and health problems related to the teeth and gums. You would be assessing and investigating any issues of the teeth and gums as well as designing customised programs of dental hygiene for patients.
One of the wonderful, highly rewarding aspects of this career is that you are not only helping patients to maintain a healthy mouth, but you are also supporting the attainment of a clean, attractive smile. A person’s teeth are often linked to their self-esteem, which means that by improving someone’s teeth along with the health of their mouth, you are making an important difference in their lives.
The dental hygiene process of care has five steps:
Assessing the patient: This includes, but is not limited to, a full review of the patient’s medical history, necessary x-rays to be taken, a clinical exam, and a periodontal assessment by probing and exploring areas of the patients mouth. During this stage a thorough documentation must be implemented.
Dental hygiene diagnosis: Assessing of data pertaining to a client’s condition/state in terms that will help identify problems so as to lead to a professional treatment plan/ therapies. The final diagnosis of disease and/or treatments solely lies with jurisdiction and/or approval granted by the doctor.
Planning: creating a sequential treatment plan for the patient. The treatment plan will vary based on the patient’s immediate needs.
Implementation: Carrying out the plan timely and effectively keeping a strong data base.
Evaluation: Determining the effectiveness of the treatment plan that was administered. If ineffective a complete evaluation on how to approach the patient’s needs differently
Over a period of months or years a dental hygienist may evaluate their client’s conditions several times, altering the diagnosis and plan as the client’s condition changes.
- On a typical day a dental hygienist may:
- Perform dental cleanings, removing hard and soft deposits on teeth
- Examine teeth and gums, noting whether signs of disease or abnormalities are present (they are not allowed to diagnose disease)
- Perform some aspects of periodontal therapy
- Apply fluoride treatments or sealants to teeth
- Take and develop x-rays
- Prepare diagnostic tests to be administered by dentists
- Assist the dentist by working chair side
- Administer anaesthetics
- Remove sutures
- Apply filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings
- Smooth and polish metal restorations.
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