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What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

ah4612 | Feb 22, 2010 |

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Although more than 50 percent of dental hygienists work less than 40 hours each week, many still make an average yearly salary between $50,000 and $70,000. Before choosing a career in this profession simply on salary though, it's important to know what a person must do to earn the average salary of a dental hygienist.

Cleaning
The majority of patients visiting a dental office are there for a six month teeth cleaning and exam. A dental hygienist takes x-rays of the patient's teeth to observe if they have any cavities or trouble spots. They use cleaning and polishing tools to remove plaque and stains from the teeth to brighten a person's smile.

Oral Health Education
To ensure patients keep their teeth healthy in between visits to the dentist, a dental hygienist educates patients on how to take care of their teeth at home. This includes proper brushing techniques as well as how to correctly floss their teeth. For patients with a history of a cavities or tooth decay, a dental hygienist spends extra time discussing ways to improve oral health such as switching from a manual toothbrush to an automatic or using a different type of toothpaste with a higher fluoride level.

Periodontal Therapy
Approximately 80 percent of Americans have some level of periodontal disease, also referred to as gum disease, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. If not treated this disease causes the gums to bleed and pull away from the teeth which results in teeth becoming loose and a person's bite changing. A dental hygienist provides periodontal treatment and therapy to patients suffering from this disease by scaling or scraping the tarter off the top of each tooth and the bottom of the gum line. This rids a person's gums and teeth of build-up and potential infection, which allows them to become healthy again.

Dental Procedures
Many dental offices employ a dental assistant to aid dentists during procedures and surgeries. However a dental hygienist fills in for the dental assistant if they are sick or unavailable to help the dentist. In small dental offices, a dentist may not employ an assistant, which means that a dental hygienist fills this role any time the dentist must perform a root canal, wisdom tooth extraction or other procedure.

Advanced Training
Opportunities for advancement are available for a dental hygienist interested in moving ahead in the profession. Continuing education and training allows dental hygienists to learn how to administer anesthetics to patients prior to having dental surgery. A dental hygienist who continues their education may advance to research or teaching positions at dental hygiene schools.