Introduction
Good health refers to the normal functioning of an individual’s body parts. Experiencing pain in any organ can indicate an onset of a disease or, in some circumstances, the spread of an infection from one organ to another. This calls for immediate health attention for diagnosis and medication. Failure to visit the hospital for medication may result in worsened health conditions. In this context, the idea of dental hygiene is examined. Healthcare providers are responsible for examining signs and symptoms of diseases associated with the oral organs, like gingivitis. Dental hygienists are responsible for the treatment plan by providing preventive care involving oral hygiene (Yoshimura et al., 2022). Additionally, they educate patients on the need to observe oral health and its benefits. This paper examines the dental hygienist’s role in homecare, the scope, and feasibility of the career, retirement license, education, experience, and possible salary and benefits for the employed.
Role of Dental Hygienist in Home Care/facility Set Up
In a homecare setup, the dental hygienist with advanced practice educates the patients on preventive measures to be followed to reduce the spread of oral disease. Some practices include avoiding alcoholic drinks and smoking since they contain harmful substances which stain the teeth. Oral hygiene practices involve brushing teeth before and after meals to reduce bacterial infection by eliminating causative agents (Hunter, 2022). Regular visits to the dentist also facilitate monitoring the state of the mouth, and early identification of a disease leads to treatment. Fruits and vegetables when taken, provide essential minerals which strengthen the teeth (Hunter, 2022). Teeth flossing and reduced sugar intake are some additional precautions to be observed.
The oral dental hygienist also diagnoses the patient at the facility setup. This is done by observing the existing signs and symptoms and comparing them with some standard mouth infections. Most importantly, physical examinations are critical as they involve analyzing existing symptoms leading to medication prescriptions (Imafuku et al., 2022). Additionally, they conduct regular checkups by visiting patients and examining their progress and response to medication. In the facility setup, the dental hygienist is responsible for examining history records of patients’ oral health, screening and taking dental X-rays and teaching the concept of preventive care in the patients.
Being a dental hygienist is a career/opportunity that I would be interested in since it offers me the opportunity to impact every citizen’s oral health positively. It is my joy to see individuals living a life of their choice and free from diseases that interfere with their daily activities. Most importantly, I will enjoy offering patient services like education to create awareness. Interacting with people from different societies will allow me to learn about their cultures and beliefs. Through this, I will become cautious and respect their mode of life. Creating a good interaction with my patients creates a smooth work progress. Patients lead healthier lives after receiving treatments, which impresses me since they will return to express their gratitude and experience. This career will enable me to become a role model to many students who have later taken these courses in the university and colleges. This will allow them to serve other citizens and make an income out of it. In the long term, my lifestyle will improve positively and benefits other family members.
Scope of the Opportunity
A Dental Hygienist is a healthcare provider trained and acquired relevant skills to handle patients with oral problems. They are members of a dental team that work closely with dental assistants, technicians, and dentists. Dental hygienists are involved in the following activities while in hospital: screening, taking X-rays, and removing tartar from teeth (Holdway, 2022). Being a dental hygienist calls for reliability and responsibility in handling patients. They should know basic safety measures and skills that make them competent. Additionally, they must be aware of creating a conducive confidentiality environment during the diagnosis process. Further, they should be able to give patients clear and detailed instructions when they leave the hospital for proper healing.
Requirements Licenses and Education Experiences
Qualified dental hygienists must meet the requirements to be recognized as healthcare personnel. Firstly, dental hygienists should undergo training in a recognized institution where they acquire relevant skills. An in-depth understanding of safety regulations and equipment management is critical in reducing medical errors (Awasthi, 2018). Before completing their studies, an internship in critical for competency assessments and approval. A certificate of completion of the course issued by the university or college indicates achievement in the career. Additionally, they sit for a board of exams which recognizes them eligible of enables getting a valid license. Sufficient experience in healthcare is an added advantage for professionalism. Outstanding and effective communication skills are a critical requirement when interacting with patients during the diagnosis process. Developing a friendly personality for the patients is an added advantage to create a conducive healing environment.
Salary and Benefits
Dental hygienist is a well-paying job which can provide a sustainable income. In the United States, they receive an average salary of $77,810 per year, equivalent to $ 37.41 per hour (Noritake et al., 2022)). Benefits enjoyed in the profession include planned holidays to spend time with family and friends. This ensures a well social life created through socialization. Working hours determine the pay leading to a competitive salary. Additionally, individuals who choose to work overtime are compensated by the hospitals. This enables them to lead a desired lifestyle and create extra income for savings. The job is flexible, as dental hygienists can work in any office setting with appropriate equipment. The career creates room for future advancement, especially in cases where more degrees are desired. One can decide to specialize and become a tutor in the university if they find the office work boring. Work flexibility brings about freedom, and earning an extra degree increases the salary.
Feasibility/Lucratively of the Career
A dental hygienist job is highly lucrative since many benefits are associated with it. It has a schedule that can be adjusted to suit the employee’s personal life. A dental hygienist can choose to be in the job on weekends only or do it part or full-time. Additionally, one is less likely to lose this job since it has low competition. A few individuals have specialized in it, and once a person has been employed, they have the job secured (Rasool et al., 2022). The salary earned in this career is comprehensive, and many workers can make personal savings that can be used in emergencies. Similarly, there are opportunities for advancements associated with dental hygienists. While in work, experience gained makes their expertise, enabling them to narrow down to research and teaching in universities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dental hygienists play critical roles in the healthcare sector by handling various oral diseases. Through this, the clinicians ensure individuals lead lives free from pain and discomfort. Dental hygienist helps other dentists treat patients and perform X-rays to identify the existing disease. In addition to that, dental hygienists offer guidance and counseling services to patients and prescribe medications. This creates awareness of preventive measures to prevent cases of oral health conditions.
References
Awasthi, M. (2018). Gingival and periodontal diseases. Manual for Dental Hygienist, pp. 211–211. Web.
Holdway, L. (2022). The role of the dental nurse in an oral and maxillofacial unit. Care of Head and Neck Cancer Patients for Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists, 98–100. Web.
Hunter, M. J. (2022). Dental trauma – a practical guide to diagnosis and managementedited by DjemalSerpil, London & New Delhi: JP Medical Publishers, ISBN: 978‐1‐909836‐66‐2. International Endodontic Journal, 55(2), 177–178. Web.
Imafuku, R., Nagatani, Y., & Yamada, S. (2022). Complexities of interprofessional identity formation in dental hygienists: An exploratory case study. BMC Medical Education, 22(1). Web.
Noritake, K., Oshima, K., Fukuda, H., Tano, R., Oshiro, A., Nitta, H., & Miura, H. (2022). Factors affecting the career continuation of newly graduated and reinstated dental hygienists who participated in a technical training program in Japan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(20), 13360. Web.
Rasool, S., Holliday, R., Khan, Z., Dobbie, F., & Bauld, L. (2022). Behavior change intervention for smokeless tobacco (ST) cessation delivered through dentists within a dental setting: A feasibility study protocol. BDJ Open, 8(1). Web.
Yoshimura, Y., Shiraishi, A., Tsuji, Y., & Momosaki, R. (2022). Oral management and the role of dental hygienists in convalescent rehabilitation. Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine, 7. Web.