What Does a Dental Hygienist Do

You know that nice man or woman who greets you at the dentist's office with a gleaming smile before leaning in to fill your mouth with whirring machines, minty polish and the mumbled answers to a million questions? That's a dental hygienist. But what does a dental hygienist do besides make you drool on yourself?

Dental hygienists are crucial to any dental practice. They are primarily responsible for these five essential tasks:

1. Polishing and flossing teeth
2. Removing plaque and tarter
3. Screening for cancer and other oral health concerns
4. Taking X-rays
5. Educating patients on good dental health practices

Depending upon the state in which they practice, some dental hygienists are also responsible for administering local anesthesia or filling cavities. They might also assist a dentist with more complicated procedures.

Becoming a dental hygienist

To work in this field, you usually must complete a dental hygiene certificate or degree program at an accredited community college, technical college, university or dental school. Most programs last two years and result in an associate degree. After graduation, before you can seek employment you may need to obtain a level of certification. depending upon the state you live in you may need to pass a standardized exam administered by the American Dental Association, or meet other state-related requirements. Once you pass, you'll be eligible to work as a hygienist at a dentist's office, hospital, school or public health organization.