The #1 Reason Why You Should See a Dental Hygienist

Jan 7, 2016
2 min read

Between lack of standard care and cost, the quality of health care has slowly declined over the past decade. Unfortunately, the dental field is not excluded from this generalization. With the focus shifting from patient-centered care to production-centered care, it is becoming difficult to find a dental provider who is both compassionate and trustworthy. Both of these traits are vital when seeking someone to care for not only your teeth but your health as well. When looking for a dental office, seek an office that employs a dental hygienist. This may seem like a no-brainer, “It’s a dental office, why wouldn’t there be a dental hygienist on staff?”

Well, more often than not, offices are utilizing the dental assistants and the dentist themselves to complete tasks previously allocated to hygienists. While this is not necessarily sub-par care, it is often not the same care that a dental hygienist could provide.

History of the Dental Hygienist

In 1913, Dr. Fones established the first dental hygiene education program in Connecticut. Throughout the 1900’s, various dental legislature, such as the Dental Practice Act are put in place to prevent dental hygienists from performing work they were not trained to do. By 1952, all states license dental hygienists and the education of dental hygienists is regulated and accredited.

Dental Hygiene Education

A majority of dental hygiene programs provide two year, or associate degrees. However, there are programs which provided bachelors and even master’s degrees in dental hygiene. Regardless of the degree level, the core education is similar; focusing on oral health and providing patient treatment to maintain optimal oral health. Admittance to a dental hygiene program is based on completion of 1-2 years worth of prerequisite classes and some institutions also require an aptitude test. Dental hygiene education is composed of clinical education (supervised patient treatment), liberal arts, basic sciences and clinical sciences. In addition to competing educational requirements, dental hygienists must take and pass both a written and clinical board exam to become licensed.

So Why a Dental Hygienist?

While it is legal for a dentist to provide cleanings, they do not have much training and practice in the utilization of dental hygiene instruments. While in dental school, dental hygiene practices are taught, but this is not a main focus. A dental hygienist, however, spends at least two years learning only how to take care of your oral hygiene. Some patients have made mention that a dental assistant preformed their cleaning. This is questionable. There are very few states that currently allow a dental assistant to scale, or use dental hygiene instruments, on patients’ teeth. However, in many states, it is legal for an assistant to polish the teeth.

Make sure you’re receiving the best care possible;