Have you been considering breaking into the field of dentistry? Did you see an interesting job posting and want to know more?

Whatever you reason for expressing curiosity, there is much to learn about the position of dental hygienist before making the decision about whether the career is right for you.

The title of dental hygienist requires a special license. Though local regulations will place carrying limitations on what this professional can and can’t do, in most cases, he or she will work under a dentist and perform teeth cleanings, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, scaling and root planing in patients diagnosed with periodontal disease.

In addition to this, the dental hygienist is generally the person that the dental office who will give advice regarding proper oral hygiene.

This professional must pass a rigorous dental hygiene program, which results in an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, offered by a school with ADA (American Dental Association) accreditation. Then he or she must go on to successfully complete licensing exams offered by the state in which he or she intends to work. This will involve both written board and clinical board exams.

There is much that this person must do. He or she plays an integral role in the regularly scheduled appointments of patients and must keep very detailed data on the status of the patient, while determining if and when other tests – such as x-rays – should be done. These recommendations are generally passed on to the dentist, who will make the final call.

Want to know more about these professionals? Keep reading here