Article by Sarah Matthews
Most of us think that a quick brush once or twice a day, along with an occasional work-out with the old dental floss, will keep our teeth in tip-top condition. Good dentists, and dental hygienists, know better. If you want to keep your teeth for as long as possible, you need to keep them clean. And visit a hygienist regularly.
Good hygienists are not a dime a dozen, they are a rare breed who really care about teeth. Many people (mistakenly) assume they are just people who didn’t want to shell out all the time, energy and cash to finish dental school. Actually, becoming a dental hygienist requires finishing an accredited dental hygiene program of at least two years’ duration and pass several state and national exams. Some finish a four-year Bachelor’s of Science program in Dental Hygiene, which includes courses in oral anatomy and hygiene theory.
Teaching good dental hygiene is an art in itself, and doing it properly is not something to be sneezed at (especially not when your hygienist is looking in your mouth). Look for one who has RDH, or Registered dental Hygienist, after their name, as a stamp of quality and training. That means her or she (usually she) is a licensed oral health professional, and has the skills and background required to work on your smile.
Duties of a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists do a lot more than teach little kids how to brush. While dentists diagnosis and treat problems of the teeth, it’s up to the hygienist to ensure they stay in good repair. After all, why pay thousands of dollars on dental work, only to let your pearly whites turn yellow and rot into little stumps? To make sure we keep our teeth in sparkling condition, hygienists can: Examine both teeth and gums. Also take x-rays and make an assessment of the gums (periodontal)Keep record of any diseases, abnormalities etc. The diagnosis of any condition normally must be done by the dentistClean teeth, removing both hard and soft deposits of plaque, calculus (tartar) etcApply agents that will help to act as a sealant and/or prevent cavities and decayAdminister local anesthesia (in some states dental hygienists are also qualified to apply other types of anesthetics)Teach the basics of good oral hygiene and how to prevent tooth decay and gum disease – oral health promotion as well as protection strategies. This can also include the introduction and maintenance of quit smoking programs, as well as the importance of good nutrition for strong teeth and gums
Remember that every individual state has its own licensing agreements concerning what a dental hygienist can do. He or she will work in tandem with the dentist, but the exact responsibilities are, at least partly, dependent on state regulation.
Tools Used
Dental hygienists, obviously, rely on a variety of tools to get the job done properly. Because most of the tools are small, hygienists must be adept at working with their hands. As technology advances so do the types of tools used, here are the basics: Hand and rotary instruments. Used to clean teethUltrasonic devices. Also used to clean, polish and remove stainsTeeth models. To show patients how to clean better, perform root canal therapy or apply certain cleaning agents and sealantsAnesthetic devices such as syringes etc. To apply local anesthesia
Dental Hygienist Overview
If the thought of sticking your hands into someone’ else’s decaying mouth makes you want to gag, think again. Government findings from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics say that dental hygiene is a growing profession, and is expected to grow a whopping 30 percent until 2016. In part, that’s because as older dentists who didn’t employ hygienists retire, younger dentists who do are taking their place.
The growth is also because dentists want to concentrate on other, perhaps more lucrative, procedures, allowing their hygienists to do more and more. Because of these procedures, however, more and more people are keeping their natural teeth longer, instead of relying on dentures. That also is contributing to the demand for proper dental maintenance and protection, making dental hygiene one of the fastest-growing professions.
Don’t confuse a dental hygienist with a dental assistant, however, as only the former is licensed to carry out the specific clinical tasks mentioned above. Dental assistants concentrate more on preparing instruments for use, performing lab duties (in some cases) and doing some basic-hands-on work, as instructed by the dentist. They can only work under close supervision, and get paid less than hygienists on the whole.
So next time you visit a dentist – or a hygienist – take the time to appreciate the varied training that each specialty involves. In particular, pay attention to what the hygienist tells you, and start brushing properly and flossing regularly and following the hygienist’s instructions to the letter. You only have one set of natural teeth – try to keep them for as long as you can.
Watch the video related to dental hygienist
Registered Dental Hygienist Jane Waites demonstrates oral hygiene techniques with ALS Ontario client Kelvin Boyd and caregiver Heather Boyd. Part 2 of 2. ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal and rapidly progressing neuromuscular disease affecting more than 1000 Ontarians. For more information, visit www.alsont.ca.
You can contact your local Health Department.
You can also try a dental school if one is within your area, or you can also find a dentist that offers sliding scale fees.
There is no FREE dental care in this country. Otherwise, millions of disabled low income people would get that. Your mother and yourself must have some income that you can make small monthly payments from. Can your mother qualify for Medicaid? They might cover her dentures in some states even though they dont really cover any dental work but maybe in your state they will. I can suggest several different things.
1. Get a medical/dental credit card called GE Money Bank Care Credit
2. Go to a dental college and have a student dentist do the work
3. Find a dental group that takes payment arrangements
4. Find an organization that will help elderly people with health problems. Lack of dental care can be serious for any age.
5. Look for a public health clinic that charges on a sliding scale. Some offer dental care.
(When I lived in Portland there were geriatric clinics).
Get her teeth cleaned immediately ! If she is disabled, look in your state for any programs that she qualifies for but there may not be time for that. For less than $100 you can have her teeth cleaned first. Call around to dentists and see if they will accept monthly payments.
Check your medical insurance to see if they cover " Surgical removal of impacted wisdom teeth". Many of them do so, and that will be a big chunk of expense if your wisdom teeth fall in this category. And Care credit is great. Good luck
Try going to a Dental College in your area. They usually accept patients "to practice" supervised by their instructors.
check out the universitys see if they have a dental school. My wife goes to one .
Dental care is not covered except in very unusual circumstances. So unusual that I'm not even sure exactly what they are, but it has to be bad enough that you need to be admitted to a hospital to have the dental work done. If you want a dental care plan, you pay privately for it. Children in low income families can get some dental care covered. Mental health care is covered if your doctor refers you to a psychiatrist. That said, every province does things slightly differently since health care is a provincial responsibility.
Is there a VA hospital in your area? When I was in dental hygiene school, one of our rotations was in a VA hospital. You can get all your dental care done there.
Here, where I am, certain health centers offer dental services. You can't be on insurance of any sort, including medicare/medicaid. But they offer the services for free.
For those who are on Medicare/Medicaid, there are dental offices that accept that type of insurance.
There are also community services offered. I recently learned that there is a church in my area that offers free services such as dental, a pharmacy, eye exams, etc all in the church there. It's something they offer once a month, I think, and they only accept 20 people each time.
Not all of these services may be available in your area, but services like that aren't advertised much, you have to do your research.
Good luck!