Oral care professional
Duties and
responsibilities: Dental hygienists typically do the following:
- Remove tartar, stains, and
plaque from teeth
- Apply sealants and fluorides
to help protect teeth
- Take and develop dental x
rays
-
Keep track of patient care
and treatment plans
- Teach patients oral hygiene
techniques, such as how to brush and floss correctly
Dental hygienists use many
types of tools to do their job. They clean and polish teeth with hand, power,
and ultrasonic tools. In some cases, they remove stains with an air-polishing
device, which sprays a combination of air, water, and baking soda. They polish
teeth with a powered tool that works like an automatic toothbrush. Hygienists
use x ray machines to take pictures to check for tooth or jaw problems.
Dental hygienists help
patients develop and maintain good oral health. For example, they may explain
the relationship between diet and oral health. They may also give advice to
patients on how to select toothbrushes and other oral-care devices.
Other tasks hygienists may perform
vary by state. Some states allow hygienists to place and carve filling
materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings.
Salary: $70,210
Education: Dental
hygienists typically need an associate’s degree in dental hygiene. Bachelor's
degrees in dental hygiene are also available, but are less common. A bachelor's
or master's degree is usually required for research, teaching, or clinical
practice in public or school health programs.
High school students
interested in becoming dental hygienists should take courses in biology,
chemistry, and mathematics. Some dental hygiene programs also require
applicants to have completed at least 1 year of college. Specific entrance
requirements vary by school.
Most schools offer
laboratory, clinical, and classroom instruction. Hygienists study anatomy,
physiology, nutrition, radiography, and periodontology, which is the study of
gum disease.
Add a picture:
Reflection: do you think you would like to be one?
Why? Why not? If
I would like to be an oral care professional um.. Maybe yea because it seems interesting
but I still want to be a veterinarian or a therapist maybe even both I don’t know.
As life goes by I might end up choosing one of these because I love animals and
I don’t like seeing them hurt and I want to be a therapist because I feel like I
can help out someone in need like I can
make a difference. I can also maybe save someone’s life I love helping people and
giving them advice's or maybe none of these but I will see what I want to be. This isn't a bad chose though.