The Real Tooth Fairy 🦷
Being a Dental Hygienist
What is a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists are preventive oral health professionals who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education and are licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, research, administrative and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimum oral health.
What does a Dental Hygienist do?
- Removing plaque, calculus and stains from the teeth.
- Exposing and processing dental X-rays.
- Applying cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants.
- Administering antimicrobial agents.
- Providing clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for interpretation by other health professionals.
- Educating patients about their personal oral health
How to become a Dental Hygienist
Requirements for dental hygienists vary from state to state, but most
require you to earn an associate degree at minimum, pass the National
Board Dental Hygiene Examination, and obtain a license issued by the
state in which you'll practice. If you know you want to take this career
path as early as high school, consider taking education courses in
chemistry, biology, and math.
Interested? Click below to find out if you've got what it takes!