How to Become a Dental Hygienist: Training, Skills, and Responsibilities
by Dulce Vazquez, age 16
Dental hygiene is an exciting career that lets you combine hands-on work with precise medical knowledge and instruments in order to maintain the health of patients´ teeth and gums.
In order to become a dental hygienist, there are several requirements. One must go through rigorous training, including academic courses and credits, hands-on work experience, and completion of a dental program that can range from two to four years. These requirements may vary by state but they all require individuals to obtain a valid dental license.
A dental hygienist performs a variety of procedures but they are essentially specialists in tooth cleanings and assist in many different dentistry treatments to meet patients´ needs. Some treatments dental hygienists perform to help prevent or treat teeth conditions include dental cleaning, tooth scaling, and root planing as well as dental sealants. Dental cleaning is like brushing one's teeth, but dental hygienists use specialized instruments to help remove tartar and plaque from the teeth. This procedure is finalized by polishing the teeth using a paste that helps with the prevention of cavities, gum diseases, and other dental concerns. [Read More]