What Does A Dental Hygienist Do?

A dental hygienist is a person who works in the sphere of oral hygiene and education . He or she helps to maintain teeth health by educating patients about personal oral care and scheduling regular checkups with a dentist.
Duties of a dental hygienist:
Patient Education - Helping people understand how they can improve their existing oral health conditions. They also develop treatment plans for patients with gum disease or other disorders.
Teeth Cleanings - Removing plaque and tartar buildup from teeth with special tools. They may also perform an antibacterial treatment to kill bacteria that causes gum disease.
Assist In Surgery – Dental hygienists have assisted in surgery as early as the 1960s. They take x-rays and count the number of cotton rolls used during oral surgery to help prepare for surgery and may apply an antibiotic ointment on patients' gums before and after surgery.

What to Expect from A Dental Hygienist On Your Visit?

Dental hygienists and dental assistants work together to provide you with quality dental care. When you visit our office, we may assign a dental assistant to help with your initial paperwork while the dental hygienist will begin preparing your equipment and materials for care.
Upon arrival, the patient coordinator will greet you and conduct a preliminary examination of your teeth and gums. After that, the hygienist will review your personal dental history and discuss any issues or concerns you may have before beginning an evaluation of your mouth. The teeth are examined for signs of gum disease, cavities, premature discoloration or other irregularities that might need attention before moving forward with treatment.
After these initial evaluations are completed, the hygienist will create a treatment plan for you which may include suggested products or procedures. You can now discuss your concerns with the dentist who is on hand to answer any questions you might have before moving forward.
The final phase of your visit includes teeth cleaning and polishing as well as flossing if necessary. Since many dental hygienists are trained in the safe removal of plaque and tartar, you could benefit from this thorough cleaning to jumpstart your new oral hygiene routine.

How To Make You And Your Dental Hygienists' Lives Easier?

The art of d entistry has seen many innovations in recent years, but some things remain the same. And for dental hygienists and their patients, there is no more important task than cleaning teeth - it's what you do every time you meet! If you strive to make the life of your dental hygienist simpler and keep the dentist as least nerve-wracking as possible then follow some of these tips.

Do Your Best To Keep Your Teeth Clean

Since prevention is always better than treatment, it's important that all patients maintain healthy teeth and gums by following a strict dental hygiene routine at home. Some foods to avoid too often include candies, cookies, crackers and other high-carbohydrate snacks.

Be Open With Your Dentist and Hygienist

Since you will be lying back in a dental chair with your mouth open during your hygiene appointment, make sure your hygienist is well aware of any medical issues right away. If you tend to become lightheaded or dizzy when sitting up quickly after lying down, then let your dentist and hygienist know beforehand so precautions can be taken to avoid any accidents from occurring.

Regular Check Ups

As mentioned above, keeping a good oral hygiene routine is important but so is seeing a dentist regularly. Since it is recommended to have your teeth cleaned at least twice a year by a licensed dental professional, the frequency of your visits may increase depending on how well you are maintaining your oral health.

The Sweet Tooth Difference

The dentists and hygienists at Sweet Tooth Pediatric dentist are here to help make your experience as easy and relaxing as possible. We care about our patients' concerns and are here to make sure you get the best care possible. Call today to schedule an appointment!

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