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Dental Hygienist Vs Dentist

Do you brush your teeth twice a day? Well, many of us are guilty of not. Doctors always quote “Good health begins with good oral health.” Then why the laxity? Most of us visit a dentist only when faced with a dental problem. But did you know that there is a dental hygienist too who could help you prevent major oral health disorders altogether.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

A dental hygienist is a licensed professional registered with Dentist India association or any similar regulatory body in the country. Dental hygienists have a bachelor’s degree in the field of oral hygiene and practice alongside dentists. They spend most of their time working on soft tissues of the oral cavity. They examine and diseases relating to dental hygiene and early manifestations of cancer and suggest lifestyle changes and healthy habits to prevent the same. In addition to the above, they also perform the following:

  • Dental Radiography
  • Administer Local Anesthesia
  • Periodontal Therapy
  • Scaling, Root Planning
  • Applying Dental Sealants
  • Selecting and Sizing Dental Bands
  • Taking Impressions for Braces etc.

Dental Hygienist Vs Dentist

Sometimes in spite of all the oral care taken and hygiene followed by us, we may still land up with a dental problem. Let’s take a simple example. You are attending a family wedding and in the midst of all the fun and celebration, you try to indulge in some exotic lentil salad. You take a bite and accidentally bite hard into tiny stone... and crack! Your tooth breaks. What do you do?

broken image

You go see a dentist. He examines the broken tooth and advises a dental implant. Apart from performing procedures like dental implants and other oral surgeries, dentists also provide treatments like:

  • Gummy smile
  • Gum reshaping
  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Smile treatment
  • Teeth whitening

So, unlike a dental hygienist who specializes in preventative and educational oral care, a dentist is responsible for treating your oral issues and performing complex surgeries to give you a picture-perfect smile. It would be justified to say that both the dentist and dental hygienist are equally important. But, a visit to a dentist could put a bigger dent in your pocket. A dental hygienist helps/prevents that dent.