General Dental Hygienist Info

A dental hygienist (commonly misspelled as dental hygenist) is a licensed dental professional who specializes in preventative care of the oral cavity against gum disease, root decay, cavities, gingivitis, etc. Most hygienists (or oral hygienists) are licensed to administer local anesthesia as per regional regulations. Among the procedures frequently performed by a dentist's hygienist are cleaning, radiographs, sealants, scaling and planing roots. In most states in the US, a hygienist will work along side a dentist as a member of his dental team, however some states allow dental hygienists to practice independently--that is, without a dentist's supervision. Read on for more in-depth information on dental hygienists' training and in-office duties.