Dental hygienist

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A dental hygienist at work
A dental hygienist at work

A dental hygienist is a licensed dental auxiliary who specializes in preventive dental care, typically, but not limited to, focusing on techniques in oral hygiene. Local dental regulations determine the duties hygienists are able to perform. In most jurisdictions, hygienists work for a dentist, and some are licensed to administer restricted techniques of local anesthesia. Common procedures performed by hygienists include cleaning, scaling and root planing, radiography, and dental sealing.

In some areas, the dental regulations include extended duties and exemptions for dental hygienists. Some hygienists are allowed to practice scaling and root planing without dentist supervision. In some areas if under the supervision of a dentist some hygienists are even allowed to perform bleaching techniques to restore teeth with certain classes of fillings.

Contents

[edit] Dental hygiene process of care

The dental hygiene process of care has five steps:

  • Assessment: Gathering data.
  • Dental hygiene diagnosis: Interpreting data into a coherent description of a client's condition in terms that can be addressed by a dental hygienist.
  • Planning: Determining the techniques that will solve the problems indicated in the dental hygiene diagnosis and the order in which those techniques will be applied.
  • Implementation: Carrying out the plan.
  • Evaluation: Determining the effectiveness of the work that was performed.

Over a period of months or years a dental hygienist may have evaluated his or her work several times, altering the diagnosis and plan numerous times as the client's condition changes

[edit] UK dental hygienists

There are approximately 20 training providers in the UK who offer dental hygienist and dental therapist training; however, there are fewer schools that train dental hygiene only, as many schools now undertake the combined dental hygiene/therapy course. Generally the entry requirements are 5 GCSE subjects graded A – C including English language and biology or human biology, and a recognised dental nursing qualification, or 2 A level passes and 5 GCSE passes at A-C for those individuals who do not have a dental nursing qualification.

[edit] USA dental hygienists

Education

Becoming a dental hygienist requires formal education. The most common requirement for a dental hygiene degree consists of a two-year degree after science and general education prerequisites. Courses include anatomy, oral anatomy, materials science, pharmacology, periodontology, nutrition, and clinical skills. There are also four-year and six-year degrees in dental hygiene. In addition, the American Dental Hygienists' Association has defined a more advanced level of dental hygiene, the Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner.

Pay

Salaries for dental hygienists vary depending on experience and geographic location. The median hourly wage for hygienists in 2004 in the US was $30.19 per hour.[1]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Dental Hygienists", Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, (visited September 28, 2006)
  • Mueller-Joseph, L., & Petersen, M. (1995). Dental Hygiene Process: Diagnosis and Care Planning. Albany, NY: Delmar.
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[edit] External links

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