The responsibility of a dental hygienist is to provide preventive care. This is done by properly cleaning the teeth with special tools and equipment, examining the mouth and taking x-rays, and educating the patient about dental care. Dental hygienists work in a multitude of settings to deliver clinical care and work under supervision. Each state endorses its own laws determining the services, dental hygienists can perform, the settings in which they can practice, and the supervision under which they practice (Mitchell/Haroun, 2012).
The dental hygiene profession’s code of ethics states that dental hygienist are professionals devoted to the prevention of disease and the promotion and improvement of the public’s health. The core values that the code of ethics states are: Individual autonomy and Respect for human beings. Each dental hygienist should know his or her values for professional ethics. Which each dental hygienist should well reflect on the following: Confidentiality- ensure that a patient’s privacy is protected and stay up-to-date of any changes in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, Societal trust- based on the values dental hygienist upheld the clients also the public trust their professional actions and behavior, Nonmaleficence- provide services in a way to protect clients and minimize harm to them, Beneficence- keep clients and the public engaged in promotions and disease prevention activities, Justice and fairness- everyone
Nature of the work for a dental hygienist is a wide range of challenges. Dental hygienist plays as the side kick of the dentist to better help their patient’s oral health conditions. The reason I mentioned theirs a wide variety of responsibilities is because different states have certain regulations on practices dental hygienist can actually do. Procedures like patient screening, head and neck inspection, and dental charting. Also, taking X-Rays, and removing plaque from all surfaces of the teeth. Dental hygienist also applies sealants and fluorides to the patient’s teeth and gums to help prevent diseases from forming. The information I conducted from my dental hygienist Linda. She noted that she teaches her patients proper instructions on flossing, and brushing teeth, and also nutrition counseling. Make an impression on their patient’s teeth for study casts which is models of teeth used by the dentist to evaluate patient treatment needs (Linda Smith). Finally, dental hygienist performs documentation and office activities. Academy of General Dentistry gave me the sources
Dental hygienists play an important role in the dental care facilities since they apply their knowledge on every case by removing tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth. They are in charge of applying sealants and fluorides to the teeth in order to protect them, they take and develop x-rays which helps them determine the patient 's vocal health and then present all this information through a report for the dentists to see. Once they have documented the patient 's care, they begin a treatment plan for each patient. They also educate their patients about the oral health and techniques they should apply and how to brush and floss the teeth accurately. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016-17, p.2) Dental hygienists apply critical thinking, compassion towards their patients, interpersonal skills, and dexterity while on their jobs and are supposed to be very detail oriented since they work on small parts of the body and need precise use of the tolls. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016-17, p.4).
The dental hygienist is expected to respect the diverse values, beliefs, and cultures present in individuals and communities. When providing dental hygiene care, dental hygienists must support the right of the individual to have access to the necessary information and provide opportunities for dialogue to allow the individual patient to make informed care decisions without coercion (ADHA Policy Manual, 2016.) It is important for the oral health care provider to focus on the needs of the patient versus their own needs or those of the practice. It is also important that every patient be treated with the upmost respect regardless of race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, social class, disability or oral conditions. The patient must also be respectful towards the provider and dental team and what they are doing to improve the patient’s oral health. This balance allows the patient and provider to both be
Young children and many adults are terrified of visiting the dentist. The first clinician they would see is the dental hygienist, making it extremely important for the dental hygienist to be kind, understanding, and easy to talk to. These characteristics will allow patients to be at ease and enjoy their dental visits. It is also important for dental hygienists to be good listeners so they could understand their patients` concerns. Physical skills are just as important as interpersonal skills in this career. It is important to have good finger dexterity and near vision. These physical skills will come to good use because the job of dental hygienists require them to use instruments in the small area of a patient's mouth. It is also crucial that a dental hygienist be in good physical shape. Dental hygienists spend most of their time crouched over a patient which could result in back pain if the hygienist is not healthy and
As a dental hygienist I will assist patients as I work under the supervision of an licensed dentist. As a dental hygienist I am not qualified to make the same kind of diagnostic decisions or perform the same procedures as dentists. Instead, dental hygienists perform basic dental care tasks, mostly focused on keeping patients' teeth and gums clean as possible. As a dental hygienist my duties are to remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth, apply sealants and fluorides to help protect
Work with staff to provide the patient with the highest standard of care by supporting any needs they might have. Setting up treatment room and ensure that all surfaces are clean to set out instruments and disposables that are needed for each patient. Pulling, reviewing and updating patient records after treatment. Fill in for the front desk if necessary by greeting patients and welcoming them in the office, scheduling next visit, re-scheduling visits as necessary, calling patients when rescheduling is necessary. I think one of the most important things to do in this job that is not mentioned so much is to remember personal details to initiate conversation with patients, as Dental Hygienist will always be seeing, and interacting with this patients. It also shows and demonstrates the patient that you are interested about their life. Remembering personal details can also be beneficial because when some patients come and sit at the dental chair their blood pressure may be high due to stress or anxiety and initiating a conversation with them, will help them relax and bring down their blood pressure. This career does not obligate you to travel, but most Dental Hygienist jobs only offer a part time, meaning they might have to travel around there area to put in more work hours, in various facilities such as dental offices, schools, nursing homes, etc. But there are facilities that hire Dental Hygienist full time, so it does not obligate them to travel. This job allows you to work inside and with staff but it is considered to be more of an independent job, because Dental Hygienist are expected to know more than an assistant because they perform more treating patients and diagnose heath issues. (Nguyen, 2018). It can be stressful but it seems to be rewarding. After interviewing Cecile Nguyen I learned a lot more about this career and understood that it is not easy but it is very rewarding as
Health care leadership begins with creating an honest environment. The core principles of ethics are beneficence (do good), nonmaleficence (do not harm), autonomy (control by the individual), and justice (fairness) (Flite and Harman 2013). Health care professionals has the responsibility of dealing with complex patient and healthcare system issues. According to, Limentani (1998), a code of ethics can assists with facilitating
According to Jada A. Grave on Money.usnews.com, the main idea about this subject is the understood tasks of a general dental hygienist. Dental hygienist focus mainly on the preventive care of dental hygiene rather than the damage already caused. They also educate and inform the patients of the best over-the-counter medicines for their pains, and speak to them about flossing and brushing habits to prevent future damages to the teeth and gums. A dental hygienist's main purposes are completing dental prophylaxis, screening oral cancer and radiographic research, and charting the conditions of
The career outlooks for this job are that the employment rate projected to grow thirty three percent from twenty-twelve to twenty-twenty. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. A normal day on the job at a dental hygiene office is the reviewing of each patient’s chart to determine the treatment plan. Then they prepare the treatment room and clean the instruments and surfaces. They also will run x-rays if they are needed for the patient. This job is usually just repetitive work; you will do the same thing almost everyday. There are many job requirements to be a dental hygienist and fulfill the needs of your patients. As a dental hygienist you remove tartar, stains, and plaque. They apply sealants and fluorides to help protect your teeth, also take and develop dental x-rays. They keep track of patient care and treatment plans and they teach patients oral hygiene techniques, such as how to brush and floss in the correct way. Also depending on their work experience, dental hygienists are able to was as clinical practitioners, educators, administrators, managers, and others, but each state has their own regulations, so depending on the state's legislature services dental hygienist perform
Dental hygienists work in a dentist’s office. Work hours for this career can vary. However, the typical work day for a dental hygienist is 8 hours. “About half of dental hygienists worked part time in 2016. Dentists often hire hygienists to work only a few days a week, so some hygienists work for more than one dentist” (Dental Hygienists). Dental offices are usually located in suburban areas.
2. As a dental hygienist they work independently or alongside dentists and other dental professionals to provide oral health care. They can choose to work in a wide range of different dental settings; dental
Being a dental hygienist comes with responsivities and challenges. A dentist and dental hygienist work together with patient’s oral health. All states have their own regulations for dental hygienists. Common tasks done by a dental hygienist are taking radiographs, removing calculus and plague, teaching patients how to take care of their teeth, lastly applying a sealant on teeth for future protection.
As a dental hygienist I plan to provide my patients with the best oral health care, including education, prevention, promotion of health, and treatment of oral infections. I plan to provide adequate and effective dental hygiene care to help patients retain and improve their overall oral health for a better quality of life. I will practice with integrity and ethically, communicating and collaborating with others. I will provide my patients with education and treatment using the most current evidence-based practice in dentistry. As a dental hygienist I will be compassionate and only provide the best care in the dental atmosphere at all times.
A dental team is usually composed of a dentist, dental assistant, and dental hygienist. This effective and efficient team works in unison to meet the needs of patients. Each member plays a vital role; specifically, the dental hygienist plays an integral role in helping patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health. A dental hygienist’s main approach in patient care is disease prevention. They implement this approach by identifying and treating oral diseases.
The Code of Ethics furnishes a definitive model of conduct. The standard of conduct is entrenched in associations, affiliations, confidentiality, and commitment with health care professionals. The Code of Ethics for healthcare quality professionals is dedicated to routine enhancement and preserving integrity by identifying individual accountability and ethical obligation to patients, medical providers, employees, health care organizations, and the community (Oddo, 2011). Ethics are not voluntary in the health care field. They are a vital and central part of medicine. Ethical codes form and assemble moral atmosphere and allotting the ethical accountability and