This involves removing tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth. On the other hand, the existence of dental assistant jobs have developed from the dentist's need in carrying out routine tasks of a dental care as part of his career. Dental assistant has been able to supplement the dentist's load of works and freeing the latter for a lighter, supervising job. The first dental assistant is trained by dentists themselves. It can be noted that the first school for dental hygiene was organized early in the twentieth century, and in 1915 the first state legalized the practice of dental hygiene. The profession has since expanded and gained stature.
The main objective of a work involving dental hygienist jobs is to help prevent tooth decay and to maintain a healthy condition in the mouth. This is done mainly through cleaning teeth by removing stains and calcium deposits, polishing teeth, and massaging gums, a process called ''oral prophylaxis.'' The dentist instructs the patient on the proper way to maintain dental health and to guard against oral disease. Meanwhile, the dental assistant careers depend on the employer's status, whether it is a private dentist, a school system, or a public health agency. The dentist routinary dental hygiene jobs with his dental assistant involve to take and develop X rays, mix compounds for filling cavities, sterilize instruments , conducting surgical works, or even carry out clerical tasks such as making appointments and filling in insurance forms.
Although some of these dental hygienist jobs might also be done by a dental assistant, only the main dental hygienist is licensed by the state to clean teeth. Also, the licensed hygienist submits a chart of each patient's teeth, noting possible decay or disease. The dentist studies this in making further diagnoses. The hygienist might well fill the duties of receptionist or office manager, functioning in many ways to assist the dentist in carrying out the schedule. The school hygienist, too, has a busy program: that of cleaning and examining the teeth of students in a number of schools. The hygienist also gives classroom instruction on correct brushing and flossing of teeth, the importance of good dental care, and the effect of good nutrition. Dental records of the students are kept, and parents must be notified of any need for further treatment. The work of the school hygienist is typical of the dental hygienist's primary functions - education and prevention of dental and disease.
Regarding dental employment, the dental hygienist may also be employed by a local state, or federal public health agency. Again, the hygienist will be called upon to carry out an educational program for adults and children, as well as oral prophylaxis, in public health clinic, schools, and other public facilities. A few dental hygienists may assist in research projects. For those with further education, teaching in a dental hygiene school may be possible. Two types of training are available to the prospective dental hygienist. One is a four-year college program offering a bachelor's degree, the other, more widely offered, is a two-year program leading to a dental hygiene certification. The bachelor's degree is often preferred by employers, and more schools are likely to require completion of such a degree program in the future. In the early 1990s, it can be noted that there were more than 200 accredited schools in the United States that offered one or both of these courses. Today, a number of new accredited schools are added in the list. The minimum requirement for admission to a dental hygiene school is graduation from high school. Aptitude tests sponsored by the American Dental Hygienists' Association are frequently required by dental hygiene schools to help the applicants determine whether they will succeed in this field. Skill in handling delicate instruments, a sensitive touch, and depth perception are important attributes. The hygienist should be personally clean and healthy. Classroom work emphasizes basic and dental sciences and liberal arts. Lectures are usually combined with laboratory work and clinical experience.
Meanwhile, the dental job as a dental assistant might be a stepping stone to a dental hygienist's career. As a dental assistant, one could closely observe the work of a dental hygienist. The individual could then assess personal aptitude for this work, discuss any questions with other hygienists, and enroll in a dental hygiene school where experience as a dental assistant would certainly be helpful. A high-school student might be able to find such work on a part-time or summer basis. A prospective dental hygiene student also might arrange to observe a dental hygienist working in a school or a dentists' office, or to visit an accredited dental hygiene school where clinics are often functioning. The aptitude testing program required by most dental hygiene schools helps students assess their future abilities as a dental hygienist.
