Dental Hygiensit - Help Make Those Pearly Whites Shine

Dental hygienists are important members of the dental health care team who work with dentists in the delivery of dental care to patients. Hygienists use, their knowledge and clinical skills to provide dental hygiene care for patients. They use their interpersonal skills to motivate and instruct patients on methods to prevent oral disease and to maintain oral health. Dental hygiene offers women and men of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds exceptional career opportunities. A minimum of two years of college education that combines classroom and clinical course work is necessary to become a dental hygienist. This education prepares graduates to provide care to patients in dental offices, clinics and educational or health care institutions. Studying in an accredited program provides education that is based on the latest procedures and techniques.

"Dental hygienists are valuable assets in a dental practice. In addition to performing technical duties, they play an important role in teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene techniques and counseling them regarding good nutrition and its impact on oral health."
 

What does a Dental Hygienist do?

A career as a dental hygienist offers a wide range of challenging ... In the dental office the dentist and the dental hygienist work together to meet the oral health needs of patients. Since each province has its own specific regulations regarding their responsibilities, the range of services performed by hygienists varies from province to province. Some of the services provided by dental hygienists may include:

1) Patient screening procedures, such as assessment of oral health conditions, reviewing of the health history, oral cancer screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting, taking blood pressure and pulse taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays),

2) Removing calculus and plaque, (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth, applying preventive materials to the teeth (e.g.. sealants and fluorides),

3) Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health, (e.g. toothbrushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)

4) Counseling patients regarding good nutrition and its impact on oral health,

5) Making impressions of patient’s teeth for study tests (models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs)

6) Performing documentation and office management activities.


The range of services provided by a dental hygienist varies from province to province. Responsibilities generally include removing deposits from teeth and providing oral health education.
 

What Does Our Dental Hygienist Offer You?

• The fundamentals of dental hygienist techniques & implementations.
• The fundamentals of dental X-Rays.
• Education in dental hygiene science .
• Chairside training with regard to dental equipment, instruments and tray set-ups
• Knowledge of proper hygienist laboratory procedures.
• An introduction to dental health and preventative dentistry.
• Externship in a dental facility.

What Career Choices are Available to Graduates?

There are too many employment opportunities in the field of dental hygiene. Since many dentists employ one or more  dental hygienists,  hygienists are in demand in general dental practices as well as in specialty practices such as periodontics or pediatric dentistry. Dental hygienists are responsible for some important patient care services provided in a dental office including removing calculus, stains and plaque from teeth, applying fluoride and pit and fissure sealants.

Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays), providing oral hygiene instructions (e.g. brushing. flossing and nutritional counseling). Hygienists may also be employed to provide dental hygiene services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes and public health clinics.

Depending upon the level of education and experience achieved, dental hygienists can also apply their skills and knowledge to other career activities such as teaching hygiene students in dental schools and dental hygiene education programs, Research, office management and business administration are other career options. Additionally, employment opportunities may be available with companies that market dental-related materials and equipment.