The Role of a Dental Hygienist and Dental Assistant in Healthy Oral Care
Oral health refers to health of the tooth, gums and all other parts of the body affected by the oral cavity. Oral health care is essential for maintaining a healthy smile and for reducing the risk of gum disease (the leading cause of gum disease). The best way to achieve optimal oral health is to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss at least once a day. Here are some guidelines on how to keep your teeth and mouth free of plaque and disease:
Description Oral health is the care of one’s teeth and mouth being clean and free from infection and other medical issues by frequent brushing and scraping of the teeth. It is also important that regular oral health be performed on a routine basis to allow prevention of cavities and bad breath in your mouth. One who is not brushing regularly is at risk of having an abscessed tooth or toothache which can be extremely painful. This is especially so if one does not have the habit of brushing his teeth after meals. A visit to the dentist would be required to extract the tooth or take away the tooth.
Description Flossing or oral cleaning is a procedure that involves removing small pieces of food stuck on the teeth or in the gums. These pieces prevent the plaque on the teeth from hardening and therefore harden into tartar. Tartar causes pain and discomfort in the mouth. To maintain good oral health, one should regularly brush his teeth twice daily. One should floss his or her teeth after each meal, to remove any food that may have remained there for a long time, especially if the person eats a lot of sticky or oily foods that tend to stick to the teeth.
Description Of The dentist One should visit a dentist every 6 months for a general checkup. The dentist would examine the oral health of an individual and take a complete history to assess what kind of oral care is being followed. He or she may even suggest modifications that could be made. If there are any abnormalities, the dentist would refer the patient to an orthodontist, an oral healthcare specialist. The orthodontist would provide instructions on proper oral care tips.
Description Of The dental hygienist One goes to a dental hygienist after having a thorough examination of one’s teeth. The hygienist would remove any plaque on the teeth, dental braces or other abnormalities present on the teeth. He would also inspect the teeth structure and check whether there are any gaps present between the teeth. Hygienists also check for signs of any diseases such as gingivitis.
Description Of Dental Assistant An oral healthcare assistant provides assistance to dentists. The duties of an assistant generally include taking x-rays of teeth, removing sutures or rubber bands used during tooth extraction, and keeping the mouth of the patient free from sores and cuts inflicted by the dentist. Other duties may also be included such as administering mouth washes or pain medication if required.
Health Benefits A dental hygienist and a dental assistant not only has the job of administering and following up on oral care, but they also have many other roles to which they can add to their skill set. They can train other dental professionals in how to carry out the same tasks so that they do not have to do it all by themselves. These professionals have better self-esteem because they know that they are serving well by helping others. They are also likely to move up the ladder in a dental profession.
Oral health care is a very important aspect of overall health care. It prevents disease in addition to infection and promotes health. Poor oral health can lead to a number of conditions that are detrimental to the person in question and even his or her family. Hence, it is highly recommended that every person must make an effort to maintain good dental health.