Dental hygienist

A dental hygienist is a field of modern dentistry that allows you to prevent the development of various diseases in advance and maintain healthy teeth for many years. Various preventive procedures greatly facilitate the treatment of existing dental problems, which should be dealt with by narrow specialists. Dental hygienists can simultaneously combine their activities with other specialized specializations, as well as act as assistants to dentists.

What is the job of a dental hygienist?

Dental hygienists individually develop a scheme for caring for the teeth and oral cavity. Also, a specialist, oddly enough, must teach the patient how to properly care for his teeth. In addition to the dental and oral care regimen itself, the dental hygienist selects the most effective hygiene products for the patient. The duties of a doctor of this specialty, if necessary, include:

polishing existing or freshly installed fillings
determination of possible pathological changes in the occlusion

– dental hygiene, removal of tartar on the teeth, measures to prevent its development;

determination of the patient’s anomalies of anatomical origin
grinding the surface of the teeth
therapy aimed at remineralization
development of periodontal applications.

What is the work process of a dental hygienist?

The main tasks of a dental hygienist:

Development of a methodology for proper care of the teeth and oral cavity; at the appointment with a specialist of this profile, the patient can count on a full examination of the oral cavity and an assessment of the correctness of its hygiene;
The doctor offers the patient to brush his teeth right in the office as he does every day. After that, he can clearly explain to the patient how well he cleans his teeth and what is the reason for his possible mistakes. With the help of special coloring solutions, the dentist hygienist highlights all the defects of brushing teeth, and tells how to effectively eliminate them next time;
Next, the doctor performs all the necessary preventive hygiene measures, including the removal of soft plaque, treatment of the tooth surface to remove hard plaque. If there are the hardest plaque particles on the patient’s tooth surface, the doctor removes them using special tools.

When is the help of a dental hygienist needed?

An appointment with a dental hygienist is usually not an emergency. It is best to visit a specialist in this profile for preventive purposes. Also, any planned or emergency visit to a dentist of any profile should begin with a visit to a hygienist. In addition to an external examination of the teeth and oral cavity, the doctor, if necessary, may prescribe:

taking x-rays to determine if there are any defects
dental computed tomography
Visiography and other methods of examining the condition of the teeth and oral cavity.

Responsibilities of a Dental Hygienist

Among the duties that are included in the specialization of a dental hygienist, it is worth noting:

consideration of the medical history of a particular patient, assessment of the external data of her teeth and oral cavity as a whole, development of a dental chart, etc.;
x-ray of teeth, determination of defects displayed on the obtained images;
elimination of soft and hard plaque from the surface of the teeth, as well as the removal of stains from the enamel;
conducting preventive conversations with the patient, developing an effective scheme for caring for teeth and the oral cavity as a whole;
taking casts of teeth that require a detailed examination by a specialist of the relevant profile;
setting up preventive fillings and their subsequent processing;
the introduction of anesthetic agents when performing certain dental operations.

Dentist tips for good oral hygiene:

Brush your teeth properly. You need to brush your teeth at least 2 times a day. The average brushing time is 2-3 minutes.
Use dental floss. Flossing should be done once a day before going to bed.
The right toothbrush. The toothbrush should have artificial bristles. The hardness of the bristles is chosen by the dentist.
The right toothpaste. To say which one you personally need, only a dentist can.
Cleaning the soft tissues of the oral cavity. Cleaning the cheeks and tongue is an important factor that eliminates microorganisms.
Use of conditioners. What kind of rinse aid do you need – the dentist will tell you.
Regularly visit the dentist once every 6 months.

Search for dentistry in Kiev by service: hygienic cleaning

Search for a dentist in Kiev: dentist hygienist