Mindy Baker
Research Writing 12
February 2, 2009
Period 7
The dental hygienist has become one of the 30 fastest growing occupations, and with the growing population and increase in the elderly, the need for dental hygienists has become much greater. Dental hygienists are one of the most people helping jobs in our country. Not only do they help with cleaning teeth but prevent long term mouth issues that could happen without taking action and seeing a hygienist regularly. Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide patients with good dental care. Most people may not be aware that being screened for oral cancer is done every regular dental cleaning. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, “an American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day.” Doing something as simple as regularly seeing a hygienist can easily prevent this. Other diseases such as gum disease, or an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place, is known to be one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. This can be treated and prevented by seeing a dental hygienist. For the pay that dental hygienists make, the help that the patients gain from their treatments is extremely beneficial. Regular cleanings and check ups and daily brushing and flossing are some key ways to stay away from these types of issues. A trip to your dentist every six months increasingly starts to reduce your risk of serious health problems that could occur for you as you age.
To major in dental hygiene, a high school diploma and college entrance test scores are usually required for admission to a dental hygiene program. Courses in anatomy and physiology, microbiology, periodontology, pain management/local anesthesia, public health, pharmacology, histology, chemistry and nutrition will provide knowledge of the human body and its functions, thereby establishing an understanding between general and oral...