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:: Dental Hygienist Program

A dental hygienist or oral hygienist is a licensed dental professional, registered with a dental association or regulatory body within their country of practice. Prior to completing clinical and written board examinations, registered dental hygienists must have either an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene from an accredited college or university. Once registered, hygienists are primary healthcare professionals who work independently of or alongside dentists and other dental professionals to provide full oral health care. They have the training and education that focus on and specialize in the prevention and treatment of many oral diseases.

Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist
Occupation
Occupation type	Vocation
Activity sectors	Dentistry

Dental hygienists have a specific scope of clinical procedures they provide to their patients. They assess a patient's condition in order to offer patient-specific preventive and educational services to promote and maintain good oral health. A major role of a dental hygienist is to perform periodontal therapy which includes things such periodontal charting, periodontal debridement (scaling and root planing), prophylaxis (preventing disease) or periodontal maintenance procedures for patients with periodontal disease. The use of therapeutic methods assists their patients in controlling oral disease, while providing tailored treatment plans that emphasize the importance of behavioral changes . Some dental hygienists are licensed to administer local anesthesia and perform dental radiography. Dental hygienists are also the primary resource for oral cancer screening and prevention. In addition to these procedures, hygienists may take intraoral radiographs, apply dental sealants, administer topical fluoride, and provide patient-specific oral hygiene instruction.

Dental hygienists work in a range of dental settings, from independent, private, or specialist practices to the public sector. Dental hygienists work together with dentists, dental therapists, oral health therapists as well as other dental professionals. Dental hygienists aim to work inter-professionally to provide holistic oral health care in the best interest of their patient. Dental hygienists also offer expertise in their field and can provide a dental hygiene diagnosis, which is an integral component of the comprehensive dental diagnosis.

Industry Description Full Program Listing

Code	Concentration	More Info
AA/PR	Dental Hygiene
School: Herzing College Program: Click the "Go" button for information directly from the sponsor. :: Concentration: Dental Hygiene :: Campus    ::  Location: Minneapolis, MN ::  more info

Industry Description

The work of a dental hygienist is highly skilled and requires the appropriate training. Unlike a dental assistant, dental hygienists undertake minor dental procedures and are not usually required to undertake administrative duties. It is essential that you complete a dental hygienist program if you want to gain employment in this area.

It is preferable, but not necessary, to complete a program that is endorsed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. For practice in a private dental office, a minimum of an associate degree or certificate in dental hygiene is required. A bachelor’s or master’s degree is usually required for research, teaching, or clinical practice in public or school health programs.

Areas of study on a dental hygienist program include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, radiography, histology (the study of tissue structure), periodontology (the study of gum diseases), pathology, dental materials, clinical dental hygiene, and social and behavioral sciences. An understanding of biology, chemistry, and mathematics are extremely useful as a base for this learning.

Job prospects for dental hygienists are excellent. In response to increasing demand for dental care and the greater utilization of hygienists to perform services previously performed by dentists, the dental hygienist’s role is expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations through the year 2012.

The services of a dental hygienist are offered in private dental practices and clinics, public health agencies, school systems, hospitals, nursing homes and corporate health facilities. Dental hygienists also teach in dental and dental hygiene programs and participate in health research so there is no shortage of career opportunities.

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