Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists provide preventive oral health care under the supervision of a dentist.
Dental hygienists may perform the following tasks:
- educate and counsel children and adults on dental health, plaque control, oral hygiene and nutrition
- remove deposits and stains from teeth by scaling and root planing
- assist in the prevention and control of dental caries (decay) and gum disease
- select and use appropriate fluoride treatments and polish tooth restorations
- expose and process dental X-rays
- make impressions of patients' mouths for the construction of study casts and mouth guards
- select and size orthodontic bands (braces), and remove orthodontic wires and attachments
- apply and remove periodontal packs
- 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 communication skills
- interested in health care work
- able to work as part of a team.
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