subject: How Dental Hygienists Can Help You Live Longer [print this page] Most people focus on the role of the dentist when it comes to oral health, but the dental hygienist is your first line of defense in the war against periodontal disease. The dental hygienist provides information on proper oral care, performs dental cleanings, and performs dental screening procedures. They will review your health history, make dental charts, and counsel you on proper nutrition for the oral and general health. They can help you avoid many of the health problems that stem from improper oral care. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart and cardiovascular problems, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and other inflammatory diseases. If you know how to properly brush and floss your teeth and eat the proper foods, you can avoid more extensive dental work and have better health.
Providing Oral Care Information
The dental hygienist is usually the first professional to see you when you make your dentist appointment. They are responsible for making an assessment of your oral health, performing patient screening procedures, and providing instruction and information for better oral care. They will take x-rays of your teeth, maintain your dental chart, and review your health history. You should provide your hygienist with an accurate health history and let them know if you have any allergies to any medications. They can give you information on the proper way you should be brushing and flossing your teeth. You can get answers to questions about the foods you should avoid or how your oral health affects your overall health.
Professional Cleaning Can Lead to Better Health
When you go to the dentist, the dental hygienist is the person who will be cleaning your teeth. After they have taken x-rays and consulted with you about your current health issues and medications, they will give you a professional dental cleaning. A dental cleaning is the removing of any hard or soft deposits from all surfaces of the teeth. They will pay extra attention to the molars and wisdom teeth, as these are the areas that are most often neglected or improperly brushed and flossed in home oral care. After your teeth are cleaned, the dental hygienist will apply a fluoride sealant to your teeth. Sealants will protect your teeth and keep bacteria and plaque from causing decay and cavities.
Care Doesn't Stop with Dental Cleaning
If you need any dental work done, the preparatory work that the dental hygienist did during your first visit will come in to play. The x-rays that were taken will be used by the dentist to determine which teeth need to be removed or fixed and the extent of the damage. The information you provided to the hygienist will be used by the dentist to help them determine which sedatives and pain-numbing agents can be used for any dental work that needs to be done. If your children need spacers for missing teeth or you need dentures, your dental hygienist will make cast impressions of your teeth to make sure that the prosthetics are going to be the right size. At every future dentist appointment, your dental hygienist will perform another cleaning, update your charts, and answer any questions you may have about brushing, flossing, diet, and general oral care. Good oral care can prevent future health problems.
