What is a Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is a licensed health care professional, oral health educator ,and clinician who, as a cotherapist with the dentist, provides preventive, educational, and therapeutic services supporting total health for the control of oral diseases and the promotion of oral health. A registered dental hygienist has graduated from a minimum two-year college program that includes classroom studies and extensive supervised clinical experience. A dental hygienist also must pass a national written exam and a comprehensive state clinical exam to earn the RDH license.
Dental hygiene is an exciting profession with many rewarding and challenging career opportunities which include clinical/patient care, administration, education, research and sales/marketing. Dental hygienists are employed in diverse settings such as private dental practices, clinics, hospitals, geriatric and special needs homes, correctional facilities, public heath departments, school systems, allied dental education programs, national, state and local government agencies, and private/business industry. As a licensed health professional and oral health educator, the dental hygienist has an important role in the overall health and welfare of the public. The dental hygienist is an integral part of the dental team, providing direct patient care based on the prevention of disease.
A dental hygienist is a licensed primary oral health care professional. The dental hygienist is a clinician, oral health educator, health promoter, consumer advocate, administrator, and researcher. The goal of dental hygiene is to assist individuals in achieving and maintaining optimal oral health. A wide range of settings is available for the practice of a dental hygienist, such as private dental offices, community clinics, hospitals, chronic care facilities, public health departments, educational institutions and research. Dental hygienists are regulated by national and state legislation. The license of a dental hygienist includes college education with degree(s), as well as specific national and state board examinations in order to obtain a license and to maintain a current license to practice. Generally the responsibilities of a dental hygiene clinician include the development, implementation and evaluation of a dental hygiene plan of care based on the client’s needs.
