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The Dental Hygiene Profession 's Code Of Ethics

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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

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