Term Paper on "Professional Dental Hygienist"

Term Paper 9 pages (2467 words) Sources: 1

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Profesional Dental Hygienist

Info: I need 10 pages assey on what is professional dental hygienist 10 pages double spaces with refferences on 1-2 current dental magazines 2006-7 and should include 'my "thoughs

The Professional Dental Hygienist

The position of the dental hygienist in the dental practice office is a twentieth century job, and actually intended for women to assist the dentist.".. By taking over some important, but unremunerative, work in public health and private practice: namely, cleaning children's teeth, and educating patients about proper dental health (Fones, 1912) (Adams, 2003)." Today, of course, the dental hygienist is professional who, before assuming the responsibilities of her, or his, profession, is required to first complete a course of rigorous course of study and internship. The position of dental hygienist is one that has become embedded in the dental practice, and has, with time, taken on an increasing responsibility and permanent place in the dental practice. This paper will look at the role of the dental hygienist in the dental practice today.

Education and Training

Today, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Bureau of Statistics (2006), found online at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm, dental hygienists must be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure depends upon successful completion of an approved course of education and training, and passing written and clinical examination (DOL, 2006).

The written test is administered by the American Dental Association's (ADA) Joint Commission on National Dental Examination. The clinical test is administered by state or local agencies (DOL, 20006). The total time required to prepare for and to complete the required course of study is two years (yielding an Associate Degree) (DOL, 2006). The two-year course of study is typically followed with an on-the-job internship, which is evaluated by dental professionals supervising the student's performance (DOL, 2006).

The first phase of dental education (what is generally conceived of as 'preclinical' years) represents a continuation of the theoretical education which characterized the students' pre-dental university education. The second phase, the clinical years, stands in sharp contrast to these first two years because of the stress placed on the development of manual skills and the treatment of patients. During the pre-clinical years, students are expected to integrate a wide variety of scientific principles relevent not only to dentistry in particular but to health sciences in general. These include areas such as microbiology, biochemistry, and human anatomy (including the dissection of cadavers).

In the clinic, on the other hand, the emphasis is less on the learning of scientific knowledge, more on the development of technique. Much of the training involves the mastery of various 'rules of thumb' (many of which are not based on scientific principles) in the treatment of dental disease (Reid, Angus, 1981, p. 52)."

There are, of course, some aspects of working in a dental practice that coursework cannot prepare a student for, and that is hopefully gained through on-site training and experience gained through the internship. Chief among those skills acquired are the ability to work with the dentist and practice staff, such as the dental assistants, who have different responsibilities and functions than a hygienist. There is, too, the need to develop and demonstrate skills in communicating with patients, and demonstrating a behavior that is conducive to good and empathetic customer service.

Some aspects of the work, like hours and dress code, are set by the professional dentist whose practice the hygienist will be employed by. The dress code for a hygienist is usually one that takes into consideration the nature of the work and the need to protect the patient and hygienist and others from transmission of infection or disease.

It is important for the hygienist to be comfortable in the practice that they work in, because that produces the best outcomes professionally and for the patient too. Any questions concerning responsibilities or the work environment should be discussed in a frank and forthright manner.

Performance and the Work Site

It is expected, of course that the dental hygienist will be responsible in reporting to work as assigned. Like any office that performs patient care, everyone's time is valuable, and appointments are scheduled to accommodate the practice professionals and the patients. When everyone is making an effort to coordinate their time, it becomes important to report to work on time. It is not just professional, it is respectful and acknowledges the time others are committing to in order to receive dental care.

More than 75% of Americans over 35 have some form of gum disease. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. The bottom line? If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums.

The mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, others can attack the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria are contained in a colorless sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If not removed, plaque builds up on the teeth and ultimately irritates the gums and causes bleeding. Left unchecked, bone and connective tissue are destroyed, and teeth often become loose and may have to be removed (Lewis, Carroll, 2002, p. 16)."

Each day a dental hygienist reports to their job, they begin by ensuring that they are prepared to treat the patients that are scheduled to be seen by them on that day. Usually, adult patients take about 50 minutes per patient for the hygienist to complete his or her service, and to provide them with up-to-date information on the care of their teeth.

Preparing the hygienists' tools and work area to receive patients is a very important task. Instruments must be sterilized after each use, and x-ray machines and materials have to handled according to instructions. The use of gloves and masks are essential to a healthy work area, and to the hygienists' own wellness as well as that of the patient.

It is also the hygienists' responsibility to stay current on literature that speaks new and innovative measures in their field as regards dental hygiene. Professional magazines and literature are a good source of information and one way to stay abreast of what is going on in the dental hygiene profession. Another way is to become a member of a peer group, which provides a forum for discussing new measures, techniques, tools, and forming cohesive professional relationships based on shared professional interests.

Although not as large as medicine, dentistry is a significant industry: the national expenditure on dental care in 1990 was $34 billion (U.S. Health Care Financing Administration 1991). There are 144,000 practicing dentists in the United States (U.S. Bureau of the Census 1992); on average three workers are employed per dental office (American Dental Association 1987), resulting in a dental workforce of nearly a half million people, including the dentists. In recent years, competitive pressures owing to higher dentist/population ratios, improved dental health, and a weak economy have sent dentists looking for methods to improve the management of their dental practices. Culver (1989) advocates the use of several methods to improve dental practice management which incorporate TQ principles (even though they are not identified as TQM). While applications of TQM for medical care have been adopted in hospitals (Berwick, Godfrey, and Roessner 1990), the extent to which dental practices have incorporated principles of TQM is unknown (Kladenberg, Dennis, 1995, p. 21)."

Prior to seeing a patient, the hygienist will review the patient's chart to determine what, if any x-rays are required. If x-rays, which are taken annually, are required, the hygienist will perform that service. It is the dental hygienists' responsibility to work closely with the dentist, who sees each patient following the service provided by the hygienist. The hygienist reports any unusual conditions the patient is experiencing with regard to his or her teeth, and, in those instances where it is something which the hygienist has not seen in his or her work before, should work with the dentist as he or she provides care so that discussions can ensure surrounding the new experience. The most common conditions that a hygienist will notice in a patient, and about which the hygienist will discuss with the patient prior to the patient being seen by the dentist.

Although the symptoms of periodontal disease often are subtle, the condition is not entirely without warning signs. Certain symptoms may point to some form of the disease. They include:

gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing red, swollen or tender gums persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth receding gums formation of deep pockets between teeth and gums loose or shifting teeth changes in the way teeth fit together on biting, or in the fit of partial dentures (Lewis, 2002, p. 16).

Since technology, treatment and care is continuously improving, the hygienist will discuss treatment options with patients who suffer from conditions or diseases of the gums and mouths. In Canada and the United States there are approved drugs… READ MORE

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