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.

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.