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SERVICES PERFORMED BY DENTAL HYGIENISTS
Dental hygienists work in a variety of professional settings. The most familiar setting is the private dental office, where they perform numerous critical services designed to detect and prevent diseases of the mouth. These include cleaning teeth; examining the head, neck and oral areas for signs of disease; educating patients on oral hygiene; taking or developing x-rays and applying fluoride or sealants.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Beyond the private dental office, the dental hygienist can be found in numerous other settings; nursing homes and long-term care facilities, hospitals, corporate health facilities, school systems and public health clinics.
Dental hygienists also work as educators and researchers. They teach in dental hygiene and dental school programs, providing continuing education seminars, conduct clinical research and/or collect and analyze scientific data.
DENTAL HYGIENE LICENSURE
Being a dental hygienist means being a licensed professional. Licensure is the strongest form of regulation used today. In accordance with state law, licensed individuals are the only persons who meet minimum qualifications necessary to practice their profession.
WHO GRANTS LICENSURE?
Licensure is granted on a state-to-state basis. The dental hygienist practices in accordance with requirements of individual state dental practice acts.
HOW IS LICENSURE OBTAINED?
In virtually every state, several steps are required before licensure can be granted:
- Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program.
- Successful completion of the written National Board of Dental Hygiene Examination.
- Successful completion of a clinical regional or state board examination.
Once these steps have been completed, you must then contact the state licensing authority in the state where you wish to practice. As licensing requirements vary from state to state, it is necessary to contact each licensing authority, individually for its specific application requirements and procedures.
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