In dental practices, there are dentists, and there are dental hygienists. Even though both work in the same field, each professional carries out different responsibilities.
If you’re prepping for your upcoming dentist appointment, knowing the difference between the two might give you a better idea of what should be expected. Today, you’ll be entering the debate of a dental hygienist vs dentist and what the major differences are.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
The name makes it pretty clear. A dental hygienist is in charge of treating and preventing oral diseases. Their work consists of procedures such as examing patients to detect any oral diseases, cleaning teeth, and other preventative dental care. They are an important asset to the dental teams as they are able to make the dentist’s job a lot easier by freeing up any burdens in the patient’s mouth.
What is a Dentist?
On the other hand, a dentist is a physician specialized in the dentistry field. They’re responsible for treating all kinds of oral issues, including the mouth, gums, tongue, and other similar areas. Dentists try to assist their patients in the best way possible by helping them maintain good oral health and offering the right treatments for their problems.
Dentists can be known as the “doctors” of the dentistry field. Only they can properly diagnose your problem.
Dental Hygienist vs Dentist
When you schedule your regular dental cleaning, it’s usually done by a dental hygienist. However, they tend to work independently from the dentist, as they have their own patients and offer their own information on oral hygiene and treatments.
Despite working independently from the dentists, they still operate under their supervision. They can provide treatments such as scaling and root planing, sealants, cleanings, and even administer local anesthetic. Yet, they cannot perform all tasks, such as fillings, as that can only be done by a dentist.
There’s also a massive difference in the educational qualification, as a dentist needs about 4-8 years of formation while a hygienist can gain an associate degree in only 2 years. That’s because only a dentist is able to examine and diagnose your oral condition, while hygienists could only give you an idea of the problem you’re having. In other words, only dentists are legally permitted to give your condition a name.
Certain procedures can only be done by a dentist. Some include:
- Root canals
- Fillings
- Gum surgery
- Extractions
You can also check out the services this dentist offers for a bigger picture. Depending on what treatment you’re seeking, you’ll either be seen by a dentist or dental hygienist but, on some occasions, you may be seen by both.
Now You Know What to Expect!
There are several differences between dental hygienist vs dentist. But, something you need to remember is that one cannot be substituted for another, as both dental specialists play a vital role in your health. If you’re unsure as to which specialist you should visit, call your local dentistry office and ask them for guidance!
Enjoyed this post? Then keep looking through our health-related articles on our webpage for similar articles!
