Dentistry (Pre)
Overview
A dental hygienist administers oral hygiene care to patients, assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. A dental hygienist will advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. They may also provide advanced care such as providing dental prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, sealants or administering topical anesthesia.
Some states have expanded hygienist responsibility through a variety of Practice Permits, the Affiliated Practice Agreement, Registered Dental Hygienist in Alternative Practice, the Collaborative Agreement and others. The state of Kansas has an Extended Care Permit I, II, & III. These expanded functions are state specific and require extra training post hygiene school. More states are being added to the list annually.
