When you visit your dentist, no matter what the appointment is for, there are a few different people that you interact with: the front staff who greet you, the dentist whose name is on the sign, and of course, the skilled team of dental hygienists who carry out a large part of your care! In fact, without them, receiving top-of-the-line oral health care simply wouldn’t be possible. Keep reading to learn about four reasons why dental hygienists are worthy of your appreciation in honor of Dental Hygienist Week this April.
1. They Assist with Diagnostic Screenings & X-Rays
There’s a lot that goes into preventive dental care—the average visit often consists of a comprehensive oral screening coupled with X-ray imaging, followed up by a thorough cleaning of your pearly whites. But your dentist is a busy person and cannot do all of this on their own, so they need to delegate some of these tasks to their capable dental team. But this doesn’t mean that you aren’t receiving top-of-the-line care; the dentist has helped to train these hygienists, so they’re acting as proxies and performing care just as the doctor would.
2. They Help Carry Out Preventive & Non-Surgical Procedures
Dental hygienists often help determine the type of cleaning that a patient might need. These cleanings involve things like removing built-up plaque and tartar, buffing off stains and polishing teeth, applying sealants and fluorides, and in some cases carrying out deeper cleanings such as scaling and root planing. These cleanings aren’t something you can carry out at home on your own—but your hygienist does it multiple times a day and is quite adept!
3. They’re Able to Administer Anesthesia and Sedation
Sometimes a procedure requires localized anesthesia or sedation in order for the patient to remain calm and not feel any discomfort. At the current moment, 45 out of 50 states in the US allow dental hygienists to administer anesthesia—needless to say, it’s just another thing that they’re taking off of your dentist’s plate so they can focus on more important matters like resolving oral health issues!
4. They Can Further Educate Patients
Your dentist imparts all of their knowledge to their dental team, meaning that in turn, dental hygienists can help to educate patients! They can inform them about virtually everything relating to oral health care, including brushing and flossing techniques and ideal products, as well as details about certain treatments and procedures. Dental hygienists are an untapped wealth of knowledge that you should take advantage of during your next appointment—this can even help you to feel more comfortable about receiving dental care!
The bottom line is that dental hygienists play a vital role in the total level of care that a dentist’s practice can provide, meaning that they’re quite an important part of any team and very worthy of praise!
About the Practice
The team at Drake and Voto Family and Cosmetic is excited to serve patients and families in the Owasso, OK community. They’re pleased to offer a wide range of preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dental services that are certain to help you and your family achieve bright and healthy smiles! If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to arrange a visit for you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to contact the practice online or over the phone for additional information or assistance: (918) 973-6120.