The Role of A Dental Hygienist In Your Dental Care

Both dentists and dental hygienists play a key role in oral health care. Now, although dentists and dental hygienists may sound similar, they vary in their responsibilities when it comes to maintaining dental hygiene.

While dentists engage in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, dental hygienists prepare patients before their dental check-ups.

Let’s delve deeper into how dental hygienists contribute to dental care.

Dental Hygienists: Various Responsibilities

Dental hygienists support dentists in restoring oral health while preventing a host of dental disorders. Read on to know more about their role and responsibilities in promoting oral health.

1) Review Medical History

Before the dentist attends to you, the hygienist will check your health and dental records. By reviewing your medical records, dental professionals can know more about the dental procedures you have undergone and the underlying medical conditions. Besides that, they learn about your allergies, medications, and overall health status.

All this helps them to assess your oral health risks and reduce the chances of any medical emergencies. The dentists and hygienists then draw a treatment plan that best matches your physical condition and dental health.

2) Conduct Screening

Besides reviewing your dental health history, the dental hygienist is trained to screen patients. That way, they can check for oral diseases and tooth decay. This patient screening process also involves a general health check-up to detect any health issues before they worsen.

3) Initiate Dental Cleanings

When you visit Springtown Smiles Clinic, the dental hygienist will clean your teeth and gums. As part of this cleaning process, they remove stains, plaque, and tartar in your mouth. In doing so, they can prevent tooth loss and cavities to improve your physical well-being.

4) Perform X-Rays

When it comes to preventative care, dental X-rays play a crucial role. With the help of such X-rays, dental specialists can identify any health disorders before they spiral out of control. Furthermore, dental X-rays are helpful to detect gum diseases, tumors, cavities, and oral infections.
The dental hygienist decides how to perform X-rays depending on the patient’s dental history, age, and physical condition.

5) Focus on Preventative Care

Along with cleaning your teeth and mouth, hygienists also educate patients about the various oral-care measures. They may even recommend fluoride supplements or sealants if needed.

The dental experts at Springtown Smiles recommend fluoride treatments because they strengthen the teeth and provide protection against the harmful action of acids. In a nutshell, Fluoride is effective in preventing and treating tooth decay.

As far as sealants are concerned, these dental fixtures can control decay in the mouth, especially for children. Sealants help in the prevention of tooth decay around the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, too.

6) Teach about Oral Hygiene

Brushing and flossing are among oral-care measures. These practices help to remove food particles stuck between teeth and the mouth in general. Well, you can rely on the dental hygienists at Springtown Smiles for information about the right techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth and the importance of doing so.

In addition to that, you can discuss the link between diet and oral health with the dental hygienists. These professionals can also help you plan your dietary regime and select your toothbrushes and other dental care tools.

7) Improve Dental Health

Dental hygienists also promote healthy dental habits. You can maintain good dental health simply by following their instructions diligently. Here, make sure you brush and floss properly and as per the hygienist’s instructions to improve your dental health.

8) Maintain Dental Records

Hygienists are the link between patients and the dentist. After these specialists clean your teeth and screen you for oral disease, they discuss your condition with the dentist to devise your treatment plan.

Additionally, dental hygienists are tasked with the responsibility of preparing patients. As such, they will educate you about your condition after studying your reports. More so, they will inform you about the possible treatments for any disorders or tooth decay problems that the dentist could suggest. Dental care specialists may also raise some dental concerns, which you can discuss in detail with the dentist at Springtown Smiles Clinic.

The role of a dental hygienist also includes creating and maintaining your dental records for future reference. Then, the dentist has to only access your medical records to stay updated about your condition when you keep returning for treatment.

Conclusion

So, we have seen how dental hygienists have a vital role in maintaining oral hygiene. They can help to detect and address any dental problems. Moreover, they work closely with dentists to chart out a personalized treatment plan to enhance your dental and physical health.

Visit Springtown Smiles Clinic for quality dental care by our talented team of dentists and dental hygienists!