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Dental hygienist

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Source: LEARNETIC SA, licencja: CC BY 4.0.

Have you ever wondered who performs oral hygiene preventive treatments? Well, a hygienist is qualified to do so. They assist a dentist directly by carrying out preventive and simple medical treatments at their employer’s request and under their strict supervision. But there’s much more to the job. The other duties of a hygienist include:

- performing initial medical examination,

- selecting proper oral hygiene products,

- conducting preventive and medical treatments such as: teeth sanding, polishing, fluoride varnishing, and sealing,

- finishing dental amalgams,

- conducting the masseter muscle exercises,

- operating dental equipment,

- passing the pre- and post‑treatment medical information over to the patients.

There are several skills and character traits desirable in a hygienist:

- good eye‑hand coordination,

- good manners,

- manual skills,

- perceptiveness and thoroughness,

- medical knowledge,

- pedagogical skills,

- diligence,

- systematicity,

- good reflexes,

- sensitiveness, kindness and patience.

A hygienist will find employment in dental offices, clinics, preschools, and schools. The job involves working in classrooms, recreation rooms, and dental offices where there is both natural and artificial lighting. The air in these spaces usually smells like medicine and disinfectants. Hygienists are exposed to contact with contagious diseases, infected tools and items. However, a person who follows all the OHS regulations and performs their duties with utter precision and thoroughness will successfully keep themselves out of harm’s way.

Dental assistant

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Source: LEARNETIC SA, licencja: CC BY 4.0.

They are always there in dental offices whenever we have our teeth taken care of. They are sidelined by the dentists whom they assist. They are there to help both the tooth doctor and the patient. That’s what the job is all about. What job - you might ask.
A dental assistant, what else. The profession is highly demanding and a responsible one. Without a dental assistant by their side, a dentist would not be able to perform even a simple treatment without causing the patient some discomfort resulting from the long time spent in the dentist’s chair. A dental assistant takes care of numerous minor activities which improve the functioning of the whole office. Their basic duties include:

- taking care of the cleanliness in the dentist’s office,

- preparing the office,

- preparing the patient before a treatment,

- assisting the doctor actively during the treatments,

- preparing supplies,

- operating dental equipment,

- checking the patient’s pulse and blood pressure,

- applying aseptic techniques,

- cooperating with the dentist,

- keeping the patients’ medical records.

A person who wishes to become a dental assistant should make a well‑informed decision based on their skills, personality traits, interests, talents, temper, and a physical ability. A good assistant should possess the following skills and character traits:

- the ability to cooperate and make quick decisions,

- interpersonal skills,

- precision,

- systematicity,

- self‑reliance,

- good manners,

- sense of responsibility,

- good physical ability,

- immunity to stress.

A dental assistant works in dental offices where there is both natural and artificial lighting. They can also find employment in dental clinics, maxillofacial surgery wards, or Sanitary and Epidemiology Stations. The dentist they assist is usually also their employer. A dental assistant works between six and eight hours a day, most commonly taking shifts.