Hygienist - The Hygienist's Role
The role of the Hygienist is two-fold: not only will they treat patients but they also teach the patient how to take responsibility for and maintain their own oral health.
Dentists undertake the initial examination of a patient and will recommend or prescribe the treatment that the Hygienist will need to give. Dental Hygienists play an increasingly important role in dental care as the emphasis of dentistry changes to one of prevention.
In addition to providing advice on effective cleaning,on diet and smoking cessation the Hygienist is responsible for the removal of deposits from the tooth surfaces to prevent the accumulation of plaque and the development of gum disease. The presence of calculus(tartar) attracts plaque and makes tooth cleaning more difficult. Calculus and some types of staining are removed using hand scalers or ultrasonic scalers.
Occasionally, patients are very sensitive to scaling and the Hygienist may need to administer local analgesia to make the process more comfortable.
The Hygienist may also apply fluoride directly to the teeth and fissure sealants, particularly on children's teeth, to help prevent decay.
