The Importance Of Dental Hygienist

Superior Essays
An apple a day will not keep the dental hygienist away. Dental hygiene is one of the most important fields of human health and it requires a very persistent and understanding professional to do the job. The mouth is an impervious part of the human anatomy and much of what dental hygienists do is try to prevent poor dental health, which is the reason most people see the dentist 2-3 times a year. Before you meet with the dentist you see a dental hygienist. Overall, most people think he/she cleans and polishes your teeth so it is easier for the dentist to check for cavities and then patients receive tiny toothpaste and the dental hygienist tells the patient to floss. They do much, much more than their patients actually realize. Most of the preventive …show more content…
If the hygienist does not succeed in educating their patients on the state of their teeth, the patients can end up suffering from a magnitude of dental problems. Cavities, one of the more understood outcomes of poor dental health, can be solved with fillings and other forms of care that require the hygienist to inform the dentist so they can perform the operation. Gingivitis, or gum disease, is much more serious, even if it does not require any surgery initially. According to Mrs. June, this again requires the hygienist to inform their dentist they are working with so the dentist is brought up of the state of the patient’s health and, if necessary, the secretary so they can schedule any additional appointments, as the patient may need to have a follow-up. The hygienist also needs to reinforce the necessary actions the patient needs to take to fix the problem. Whether that is flossing or a special toothpaste or mouthwash is up to the hygienist. Again, reminders may need to be sent home, especially for younger patients or older ones that are forgetful. Educating the patient on what might the outcomes be may encourage them to be more cautious with their teeth, which is exactly what a dental hygienist wants and what the patient should want to.
Being a dental hygienist can be a very tasking job, one that requires hard
…show more content…
Normal aches and pains can be common for all sorts of careers, but, [w]ork-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are common in practicing dental hygienists, as well as dental hygiene students” (Humann). MSD can cause problems such as, “burning, tingling, numbness, swelling, limited motion or pain in the back, neck, shoulder, arm, hand, and wrist”. The afflicted areas are places the hygienist needs to use daily to help their patients. If they do not address the issue quickly the outcomes could mean not being able to work for long amounts of time. It is best to receive massages and go to a chiropractor during the time you are working to ensure your aches and pains do not result in anything

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Dental hygienists are dedicated to preventing diseases and enhancing the public's health. They are precautionary oral health experts who supply educational and clinical services to the public. They attempt to have productive and sustaining lives that consistently assist the public and themselves, their profession, our society, and just in general the world. Dental Hygienists actions and behaviors are reliable with the obligation to public service. It is essential for Dental Hygienists to incorporate the Code into their daily lives.…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    (Winick). “When dentists and physicians work together, medical outcomes will be improved and lives will be lengthened... many people still don’t understand that good dental health can add years to your life” ( Kammer). Going to the dentist can save lives and improve overall health. Caring for one’s oral hygiene is essential for an overall healthy and a prolonged…

    • 1978 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The duties and responsibilities of being a dental hygienist involve explaining to their patients how they can carry out effective oral hygiene. This includes telling them how to choose toothbrushes, explaining how to clean their teeth correctly, and informing them about the relationship between oral health and diet. They polish and clean the teeth of their patients, and take away the stains, calculus, and plaque deposits from below and above the gum line. A dental hygienist may also help the dentist when he or she is treating patients, administer periodontal therapy, remove sutures, re-contour and polish fillings, and remove and replace temporary fillings and periodontal dressings. They are responsible for carrying out a full oral examination and taking patients' dental histories.…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    During my observations I witnessed many situations that I will encounter in my journey in becoming a dental hygienist and when I start practicing on my own after completing the program at West Coast University. Mainly from what experienced I learned that the patient is the most important thing when they sit down in your chair. The experience they have can shape their personal feelings about coming to a Dental office. How the appointment goes can either have a positive and negative outcome. Positive as in the patient leaves happy and smiling and negative as the patient will have negative things to say about you and will have secondary thoughts about coming to the hygienist regularly.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When and why did decide you become to a dental hygienist? I have been interested in dentistry for as long as I can remember. I began my journey as a pre-dental student at Western Washington University. During my first quarter, I got the chance to speak with a team from one of the local dental clinics for almost 4 hours. After learning about what being a dentist included and chatting with the dental hygienist at the clinic for about half of my time spent in their clinic, I realized that dental hygiene was perfect for me.…

    • 861 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dental Hygienist

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Dental hygienist needs to be able to not only perform their skills well but also be able to transfer the knowledge and important information to their patients such as preventative care. Patients are instructed the correct way to brush their teeth, the most affected toothbrush, flossing, and other ways to improve and maintain good oral health. Most importantly, making the patient feel comfortable enough to enjoy keeping their oral and…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Benefits Of Being A Dental Hygienist

    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 3 Works Cited

    Getting a job out in the real world as a dental hygienist is not a problem right now because there is such a high demand for it. The factor that I see many hygienists look at is the pay. After doing a little research, I found out the Texas, California, Alaska, Nevada, and Arizona are some of the highest paying states in the dental hygienist field. The hourly average starting pay for a dental hygienist is $33. However, depending on where you work that hourly wage can go up or down.…

    • 1568 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 3 Works Cited
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Dental Hygiene Observation

    • 1120 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Introduction to the Dental Hygiene profession has been a complete and enjoyable class that set the core all the clinical documentation and protocol to follow here at Fortis college. As part of this class the instructor had create a variety of interactive assignments where students get to experience what it feels when having a real patient in front of them. Such was the clinic observation activity where we, the lower clinic class, had the opportunity to observe how students of a higher class were handling a full clinic section with the help of their high qualified instructors. One of the expectations I had for this activity was that I would be able to see the process of care in action, since the clinician brings the patient to the operatory…

    • 1120 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ever gone to the dentist scared or frightened that you won’t get a good report? Not me. Keeping my teeth clean is something I have always enjoyed and been good at. The career of being a Dental Hygienist was always something I was interested in because ever since my childhood, I have always liked the dentist and keeping up with my oral hygiene. Now after researching this career and finding out more information about the education, environment, and job outlook I am still very interested in becoming a Dental Hygienist.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I am a mother of two beautiful girls. Until recently I was a stay at home mom. I loved being able to watch my children grow and learn to love learning. My husband and I have been struggling with finances and I have been working to help sustain our family. I am not satisfied with my job and in the midst of looking for a new one I have discovered that there are not many jobs out there for a person without a degree that pays well.…

    • 176 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Dental Hygienist Career

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Pages

    I have had the profession of being a dental hygienist picked out since freshman year. Recently I have explored colleges that offering the right type of schooling and narrowed it down to two. Ferris State University is one of them, and Grand Rapids Community College is the other. The reason I choose Ferris is because the wait to enter into the dental program at GRCC is a minimum of 2 years. Also, Ferris offers both an associate and bachelor degree in dental hygiene, where GRCC only has associate.…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The best interpretation of a dental hygienist that I can conceive is a professional whose main job is to teach their clients the essential oral hygiene skills and provide dental care in order for the client to maintain their overall oral health. Among the various responsibilities performed for the client to insure their health and safety includes making sure, we, as dental hygienists first do not harm to the patient by contaminating with pathogens that could have easily been disposed of by simply following the standard rules of infection control. As stated by Ester Wilkins “Dental healthcare personnel have a professional obligation to serve all patients with comprehensive oral care, including patients with known or unknown communicable diseases.…

    • 1434 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    The Importance Of Dental Hygienists

    • 1533 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 4 Works Cited

    Communication is vital since dental hygienists are constantly teaching patients how to have healthier teeth. Dental hygienists work individually with their patients in a direct manner in which they clean their teeth and also teach them how to take better care of their teeth. Oral health is a key health subject that dental hygienists teach their patients. They teach them various things such as which toothbrush they should use and how a good healthy diet can improve oral health as well (“Dental Hygienists” U.S. Bureau). Dental Hygienists also record if their patients show signs of abnormalities or diseases while inspecting their gums and teeth.…

    • 1533 Words
    • 7 Pages
    • 4 Works Cited
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    They do this procedure unsupervised and they clean your teeth of plaque or calculus. Dental hygienists are able to do many procedures under their scope of practice and they can still further their scope of practice with continuing their education and gaining more…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    They provide advice and instructions on taking care of the teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health.” Dentists advise their patients the appropriate way of ensuring a healthy mouth. Dentists work in dental offices where they have their own rooms and special equipment to treat their patients. A typical day for a dentist has its ups and downs. Dentists check the schedule a day prior to be prepared for the next day patients, but they can never trust that schedule because it is always changing.…

    • 1285 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays