Many people know and love their dental staff, but few know the difference between the scopes of care provided by their oral healthcare providers.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist (or RDH) is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventive oral health. Dental hygienists provide three types of services to their patients. The first of these is preventive services to promote and maintain good oral health. The second is educational services to help patients develop behaviors that promote better oral health and help their patients understand the importance of practicing good oral hygiene. The third type of service provided is therapeutic services which are treatments meant to stop disease and maintain healthy tissues in the mouth.
Common procedures performed by hygienists include cleanings known as prophylaxis, scaling and root planing for patients with periodontal disease, taking of prescribed radiographs, dental sealants, administration of fluoride, and providing instructions for proper oral hygiene and care.
Dental hygienists work together with dentist to provide optimum oral health care to the public. Dental hygienists also offer expertise in their field and provide the dental hygiene diagnosis, which is an integral component of the comprehensive dental diagnosis.