Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education, licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, research, administrative, and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimum oral health.
In performing the dental hygiene process of care, the dental hygienist assesses the patient’s oral tissues and overall health determining:
- The presence or absence of disease, other abnormalities, and disease risks
- Develops a dental hygiene diagnosis based on clinical findings.
- Formulates evidence-based, patient-centered treatment care plans
- Performs the clinical procedures outlined in the treatment care plan.
- Educates patients regarding oral hygiene and preventive oral care.
- Evaluates the outcomes of educational strategies and clinical procedures provided.
Clinical procedures provided typically include:
- removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth.
- Exposing and processing dental X-rays.
- Applying cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants.
- Administering antimicrobial agents.
Under the dentist’s supervision, they also administer local anesthetics and nitrous oxide; remove sutures; perform root-planing as a periodontal therapy; and polish restorations.
We are lucky at Dental Smiles to have Lucy Mwai, a Dental hygienist who received a degree in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene and Therapy in 2004 at Baltimore City and is a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) by the Maryland State Board of Dentistry.