Dental hygiene is the at the very core of keeping teeth healthy. At my dental office in Columbia, we’re excited to celebrate National Dental Hygiene Month and highlight our amazing hygienists throughout the entire month of October. Hygienists are dedicated to helping you and your smile look and feel its very best.
What do Dental Hygienists Do?
Dental hygienists usually work alongside a dentist to provide additional support for patients who are in the office for everything from a routine cleaning to advance treatment procedures. They make it a priority to help keep teeth clean through up-to-date education and training. Hygienists have different duties depending on what state or region they’re licensed to practice, but you can usually find them doing some, or all, of the following:
Getting to Know You: They will usually start out by asking patients about their oral health routine, reviewing health history, performing an oral cancer screening, and getting a blood pressure reading.
Cleaning Your Teeth: Hygienists will ensure teeth are clean by removing plaque buildup from teeth.
Protecting Your Smile: Sometimes, hygienists will also help a patient’s smile by applying fluoride treatment and/or sealants to keep teeth protected even after patients leave the dental office.
Teaching You the Ins and Outs of Dental Care: Educating patients is what hygienists do best. They enjoy teaching patients all about the importance of eating well, along with talking about proper brushing and flossing techniques.
Assisting Your Dentist: Hygienists are also trained at taking oral impressions to give the dentist a clear look at what is going on inside a patient’s mouth. This helps in deciding what treatment techniques will work best.
Education and Training
At my Columbia dental office, we always salute hygienists and the excellent work they do. In order to help patients stay healthy, hygienists usually attend a community college, technical college, dental school, or university program to obtain an associate degree. Some universities even offer a four-year program. Most hygienists earn an associate degree after two years, before taking a state, local, or regional licensing test.
When you visit the dentist in Columbia, please be sure to say thank you to your hygienist for helping keep your smile happy and healthy. And don’t hesitate to ask questions. They are always happy to teach you special tips and tricks about how to keep your oral and overall health in good shape.
Accepting new patients from Columbia, Elgin, Lugoff.