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.