What You Didn’t Know About Your Dental Hygienist
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What You Didn’t Know About Your Dental Hygienist
After sitting in the waiting room I was finally called back. Making my way down the hallway, I take my place in the dentist’s chair on a little room off to the left. Shortly after making myself comfortable in the chair a nice, young woman entered. While laying there having my teeth cleaned I wondered, “How do I know that she is doing a good job? What makes a good dental hygienist?”
What Can A Dental Hygienist Do?
The main job of a dental hygienist is to remove soft and hard plaque deposits from their patient’s teeth. A dental hygienist is also responsible for teaching patients about good oral hygiene practices, examining gums and teeth and recording the presence of any abnormalities.
A dental hygienist uses a variety of tools to perform their job duties. They use hand, rotary or ultrasonic devices to remove the soft or hard plaque. In some states, a dental hygienist is able to use syringes and administer anesthetics for oral surgery, shape fillings, do temporary fillings and even smooth and polish metal restorations.
The focus of a dental hygienists job is prevention. The more efficient the dental hygienist is in their cleaning, the better off the patient is in the long run.
Dental Hygienist Certifications & Education
A dental hygienist will attend school for approximately 2 years. In school, a dental hygienist will focus on biology, microbiology, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology. Upon completing their education, a dental hygienist is required to pass national dental exams and obtain state certification. Many dental hygienists are also required to join the American Dental Hygienists’ Association.
What Are The Opportunities in Dental Hygiene?
The dental hygienist occupation is expected to grow approximately 36 percent thought the year 2018. This rate of growth is much faster than most occupations due to the increased demand for dental care.
The increased demand for dental hygienists is potentially due to the elderly retaining more teeth. The Increased demand for dental hygiene is also due to the increased awareness for dental care.
As of May 2008 the median salary for a dental hygienist was $66,570. The middle 50% of dental hygienists earn from $55,220 and $78,990.
Dental hygienists also have great flexibility in their jobs and often work part time.