Oral Care
Professional
Duties
and Responsibilities:
Prepares treatment room for patient by following prescribed
procedures and protocols. Prepares patient for dental treatment by welcoming,
comforting, seating, and draping patient. Provides information to patients and
employees by answering questions and requests. Provides instrumentation by
sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area; positioning
instruments for dentist's access; suctioning; passing instruments. Provides
materials by selecting, mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the
patient's mouth. Provides diagnostic information by exposing and developing
radiographic studies; pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts. Maintains
patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary
restorations; cleaning and polishing removable appliances. Helps dentist manage
dental and medical emergencies by maintaining cpr certification, emergency drug
and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory. Educates patients by
giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions.
Salary:
$70,000 anually
Education:
A licensed dental professional who specializes in
preventive oral health, typically focusing on techniques in oral hygiene.
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 them understand the importance of practicing these
behaviors. The third type of service provided is therapeutic services which are
treatments meant to stop disease and maintain healthy tissues in the mouth.
Local dental regulations determine the scope of practice of dental hygienists.
In most jurisdictions, hygienists work for a dentist or dental specialist, and
some are licensed to administer local anesthesia and perform dental
radiography.
Reflection:
Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?
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