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WHAT IS AN RDH?
Of course most of you who clicked on this page already know
what an RDH is, but there are a few visitors who are curious
and don't know yet. This page is to describe the basic roles
of a dental hygienist, although some states can vary on what
they allow.
As taken from the ADHA website.........:
What Do Dental Hygienists Do?
A career as a dental hygienist offers a wide range of challenges.
In the dental office, the dentist and the dental hygienist
work together to meet the oral health needs of patients. Since
each state has its own specific regulations regarding their
responsibilities, the range of services performed by hygienists
varies from state to state. Some of the services provided
by dental hygienists may include:
patient screening procedures; such as assessment of oral
health conditions, review of the health history, oral cancer
screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting and taking
blood pressure and pulse;
- taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays);
- removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits)
from all surfaces of the teeth;
- applying preventive materials to the teeth (e.g., sealants
and fluorides);
- teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies
to maintain oral health; (e.g., toothbrushing, flossing
and nutritional counseling);
- counseling patients regarding good nutrition and its
impact on oral health;
- making impressions of patients' teeth for study casts
(models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment
needs); and
- performing documentation and office management activities.
Since each state has its own specific regulations regarding
the dental hygienists' responsibilities, the range of services
provided by a dental hygienist varies from state to state.
Responsibilities generally include removing deposits from
teeth and providing oral health education.
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