The job of dental hygienists is very important and necessary within the dental health profession. A dental hygienist is basically a licensed medical professional, licensed by a state or regulatory board in their respective country of practicing. However, within the dental profession, dental hygienists are considered to be an employee of a dentist rather than an employee of the state. This is because this line of work has become more popular, is accepted by most people, and there are many schools offering training and a degree in this profession and thus, there are plenty of dental hygienists who will enter the dental profession and work as an assistant in a dental practice.
There are a lot of different things that dentists, who are responsible for treating patients with oral diseases, teach their dental hygienists and dental assistants. These teachings will help dental hygienists and dental assistants to get a basic understanding of the actual responsibilities in the dental hygiene department of most dental practices.
Basic things like proper protocol of dental office procedures are provided by dentists to dental hygienists so that they can assist with any of the dental treatments of multiple patients. Dental hygienists are expected to service patients at the dentist office, and will also be expected to communicate any relevant information concerning the patient's dental status directly to the dentist on a regular basis.
Hygienists are usually taught to perform a number of different procedures during their time at dental practices. The most common procedure that these dental hygienists learn are dental X-rays and teeth cleanings. Dentists will teach these hygienists about how to clean teeth and dental fillings, so that the fillings will not get chipped or broken. These fillings can be removed by the hygienists by removing them from the enamel, and then cleaning them prior to putting them back on the teeth.
As part of their training, dental hygienists will also be taught to properly clean the mouth of the patients, and give them medications for their oral ailments. Some people may need to take a pill every now and then while other patients may require oral medications for their ailments every day or every two days, depending on their condition.
Dental hygienists are also required to have some degree of knowledge about dental equipment used within the dental practice. They will learn how to operate the equipment, and how to best use it to administer proper dental care and treatment. Much of the equipment helps in providing patients what is needed to maintain a high level of dental health.