|
Dental hygienists are licensed oral health
professionals and are extensively trained in their area
of focus. Primary functions include assessing the
oral health of clients and providing both preventative
and treatment based care.
They assess the health of the teeth and gums by
taking radiographs and gathering diagnostic data.
On a preventative scope they clean teeth, apply
sealants and fluoride, and educate patients.
On a treatment level they perform periodontal
debridement (cleaning) of hard deposits above and below
the gum-line, administer local anesthetic and nitrous
oxide if needed for patient comfort, and collaborate
with the dentist to provide optimal client care.
Washington State is one of the few states that allow
dental hygienists to place permanent fillings. At
Shoreline Community College the dental hygiene education
includes an in-depth restorative portion where students
learn how to fill cavities prepared by a dentist with
both composite and amalgam fillings.
Dental hygienists also have the option to expand
their careers in public health settings, education,
sales and research.
|