Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists use preventive, educational and therapeutic methods for controlling oral diseases to help individual patients and groups achieve and maintain oral health.

Dental hygienists may perform the following tasks:

• educate, counsel and provide instruction for children and adults on dental health, plaque control, oral hygiene and nutrition
• remove deposits and stains from teeth by scaling, root debridement and tooth polishing
• identify and apply prevention strategies and control mechanisms for dental caries (decay) and periodontal (gum) disease
• select and use appropriate fluoride treatments and polish tooth restorations
• apply professional tooth whitening agents
• place temporary dental restorations
• apply rubber dam fissure sealants
• expose, process and interpret dental X-rays
• take impressions of patients' mouths for the construction of study casts, mouth guards and orthodontic appliances
• select and apply orthodontic brackets and bands (braces), and remove orthodontic wires and apparatus
• apply and remove periodontal packs
• select and administer pain control techniques, including local anaesthesia
• remove dental sutures
• instruct patients on how to look after their teeth and mouth after operations.

Dental hygienists work in a team led by a practising dentist.

Personal Requirements:

• good hand-eye coordination
• able to perform precise and detailed work
• good problem-solving skills
• good communication skills
• interested in health care work
• able to work as part of a team.

Related Jobs:

• Dental Assistant
• Dentist
• Oral Health Therapist

Education and Training, Employment Opportunities and Additional Information

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