What's the difference between a Dental Assistant and a Dental Hygienist? What do they do?

A Dental Hygienist is a licensed professional.


In order to become a Registered Dental Hygienist a person is required to graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program (college). The applicant is required to demonstrate proficiency by successful completion of a board examination that includes both written and clinical practice sections. The license to practice Dental Hygiene is issued by the state board of dentistry in the state where employment is undertaken.


In a private practice a Dental Hygienist's duties include:


Oral prophylaxis (removing deposits and stains from teeth)


Exposing, processing and mounting radiographs (x-rays)


Instructing preventive dental care


Counseling on diets


Applying dental sealants and fluoride


Taking medical and dental histories


and generally "pitching in" to help the dental team.

What's the difference between a Dental Assistant and a Dental Hygienist? What do they do?
a dental assistant assists or helps a dentist.. they cannot do their procedures alone.. a hygienist can do procedures alone, but cannot open their own practice like a dentist..
Reply:a dental assistant assists the dentist, she hands him tools, suctions the mouth while he works, takes x rays ,makes impressions etc.... a hygienist someone that cleans teeth, they do all the cleaning and take xrays, check your gums and the overall health of the client, they chart it and then when you have a problem you go to the dentist. the hygienist goes to school longer and basically works on their own in a dental office, not to mention makes allot more money than an assistant.
Reply:The hygienist scales, polishes, and cleans the teeth. Not every office had a hygienist and yes they do make more money but it's harder to find work. The assistant charts, passes instruments, takes x-rays, selective polishing, impressions, pours up models (some offices), can pack amalgams, runs the desk, and much more. The duties of each expands almost every year.

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