When you visit your dentist, you will often find your treatments and cleanings are administered by different people. Your primary care provider is your dentist, but they will have other dental staff in their office. One such person is the dental hygienist. Depending on the size of your dentist’s practice, there may more than one hygienist on staff.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
A dental hygienist is a licensed oral care professional who works with your dental team. They provide treatments and care to maintain or improve your oral health. While there are different duties an hygienist may be responsible for (depending on state regulations or dental practice needs) you will often find the hygienist is responsible for providing you with your cleanings and they may also assist the dentist when receiving treatment. Hygienists will work with your dentist on your treatment needs based on observations they find while providing your cleaning and may administer further care after your dentist performs examinations.
At Shorewood Family Dental Care we have a team of hygienists who will provide you great care to help you have your best smile. We encourage you to build a relationship with us so we can see progress or changes over time. This will help us make sure you experience the best oral health as possible. Our hygienists, like all of our clinical experts, value continuous education to make sure we can provide you the best experience with the latest knowledge available.
When Should You See A Dental Hygienist?
The most common time to see your hygienist is for your routine cleanings. Most treatment plans recommend a cleaning every 6 months, which includes x-rays at least once a year. If you have issues or problems with your teeth or gums, your dentist may recommend more cleanings throughout the year. Dental cleanings are important to help prolong the health and integrity of your teeth, while identifying issues before they become major problems.
Along with the responsibility of performing your cleanings, a dental hygienist is often responsible for:
- Reviewing your dental history.
- Completing reports and treatment paperwork.
- Administering and processing x-rays.
- Performing advanced and deep cleaning treatments.
- Performing preliminary examinations and monitoring gum health.
- Assisting the dentist while he/she is performing a treatment plan.
- Educate patients on proper oral care.
If you are in the southwest suburbs of Chicago near the Shorewood area and are looking for great dental care, contact us at Shorewood Family Dental Care for a consultation or appointment today. We have ours 6 days a week to fit your schedule. We look forward to meeting you.
