What is The Role of Dental Hygienists In Dental Treatments?

When you visit a dental office for a routine dental assessment or cleaning, you’re likely to spend some time with a dental hygienist before seeing the dentist. Like many, you might wonder what role a dental hygienist performs in your oral health and well-being.

Generally, a dental hygienist helps your dentist in numerous ways, including:

• Reviewing dental patient’s medical history

Before performing any dental work or treatment, a medical review of the patient is critical for several reasons. When you get to the dental office, a hygienist will ask questions about your oral and overall medical history. They can ask about previous and existing oral and health conditions like cavities, gum disease, diabetes, or heart disease.

They can also ask whether you’re taking any medication or lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol. This information is essential to assess your oral health risks, prevent emergencies, evaluate any changes in your oral and overall health, and help a dentist know how to treat you better.

• Oral exams

In addition to reviewing your medical history, a hygienist can also examine your gums, teeth, mouth, neck, throat, and head for potential problems like cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, tooth damage, oral cancer, and poor bite. It allows for early detection and treatment of potential problems. The process is quick and non-invasive. The dentist will create a personalized treatment to restore oral health based on the exam.

• Dental cleanings

Dental experts recommend having at least two dental cleanings per year. They are essential for removing bacterial plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums. These deposits could potentially cause gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath, and tooth discoloration if not removed.

During the cleaning, a hygienist uses special dental tools to scrape off plaque and tartar on the teeth and around the gums. Next, they will brush, polish, and floss your teeth to remove any leftover debris and give them a smoother and brighter appearance. Visit our office for the best dental hygiene services.

• Dental x-rays

If you visit a dental office for tooth damage, dental x-rays may be necessary to determine the extent of damage to your tooth that you can’t see with the naked eye. Dental x-rays diagnose your problem properly, ensuring you receive the right treatment.

A hygienist can also perform routine dental x-rays to review your oral health and spot potential problems like cavities, oral cancer, and gum disease in the early stages. It allows for early treatment before the issues develop into more serious stages. Consult your dentist or hygienist about how often you can have dental x-rays.

• Preventive care

As far as preventive care is concerned, a dental hygienist can educate patients about preventive care, perform fluoride treatments, and apply dental sealants. Routine fluoride treatments are essential to strengthen and protect your teeth from cavities and erosion. Applying dental sealants on the chewing surface of the back teeth reduces the risk of plaque and tartar buildup, protecting you or your child against cavities and gum disease.

• Good oral hygiene and health education

Oral care education plays a significant role in maintaining a clean, functional, beautiful, and healthy mouth. During your routine dental checkups, the hygienist will take a few minutes to educate you or your child on how to best care for your mouth. They can demonstrate how to brush and floss properly and stress the importance of doing it. A hygienist can also recommend oral products and a proper diet for your teeth and gums. They can also warn about bad habits for your oral and dental health.

• Updating your dental file

A hygienist serves as a bridge between you and your dentist. After your exam or cleaning, the hygienist reports their findings to the dentist. The dentist uses the information to review your oral health and create a custom treatment to address any issues you might have. The hygienist can also prep you for your treatment. They also create and maintain your dental records.

How often should you go to the hygienist?

Generally, individuals with healthy gums and teeth and no oral problems should have an appointment with a hygienist every six months. Factors that determine your frequency of appointments include age, existing oral issues like gum disease, and undergoing treatments like braces. Visit our dental office in San Jose to determine how often you should see a hygienist.

Schedule an appointment today

Are you interested in Dental Hygiene In San Jose, CA? Contact Neeshat S. Khan, DDS, to book a consultation today.