What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

The response to the question, what does a dental hygienist do, is manifold. The dental hygienist job description is rather complex given that a dental hygienist's duty aligns with pre-procedure care, in-office treatment of patients and post-procedure care.

During an appointment, a hygienist may remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, examine gums and teeth to note diseases or abnormalities and rid the teeth of calculus (or tartar), stains and plaque. A dental hygienist may also perform root planing as periodontal therapy, take x-rays and apply cavity-deterring agents such as fluoride and sealants. In some cases and in some states, hygienists are allowed to administer anesthetics and perform other duties typically assigned to a dentist such as filling application, periodontal dressing, suture removal and polishing metal restorations. While dental hygienists do not diagnose oral disease, one important dental hygienist duty is to prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to later interpret.

A dental hygienist has a pedagogic role as well--he or she teaches patients how to develop and maintain good oral hygiene using models of teeth as a prop. The hygienist may delineate the relationship between diet and oral health and aid patients in establishing good brushing habits.