A Day in the Life of a Dental Hygienist
October is National Dental Hygiene Month, so here at East Portland Dentistry we are celebrating the compassionate dental staff of hygienists who partner with dentist in Portland, OR Dr. Joy Arend. To celebrate all of their hard work, we wanted to share a day in the life of a dental hygienist.
Dental Hygiene Education
In order to be a dental hygienist, one must first be accepted into an accredited college. To be a dental hygienists, one must pass difficult national board exams. After that, regional clinical exams and a state exam are required. Once they pass these, a hygienist will apply for a state license with the Board of Dentistry.
Working as a Dental Hygienist
After all of the exams and schooling are complete, a hygienist can work with patients. The dental hygienists here at East Portland Dentistry enjoy patient interaction, especially when they get to educate patients on the benefits of taking care of their teeth.
We believe that patient interaction is important for building trust with our patients. We strive to make every patient visit comfortable, safe and fun.
A typical day is busy…
Removing extra tartar, bacteria and food particles off your teeth is part of what dental hygienists do, but most days we do so much more.
• Review medical histories
• Provide oral hygiene instructions
• Suggest products that will improve all individualized care
• Take radiographs
• Educate patients
• Welcome our new patients
• Administer anesthetics
• Answer questions
• Place sealants and apply fluoride treatments
Additionally, we are always learning more about the industry so we can help keep your smile healthy.
As you can see, a day in the life of our dental hygienist can be busy, but we always have fun.
What Patients Say About Our Dental Hygienists
There are some common stereotypes with dental professionals being rude or mean, but here at East Portland Dentistry, we take great care of our patients. Our hygienists always say taking care of your teeth should be fun and painless.
Here are a couple comments from our patients about our friendly service:
“I just love the entire staff. They are all warm, friendly and very knowledgeable. I am a patient for life! Thank you to all the staff for making me able to smile again with confidence.” -Leslie D.
“Our family has enjoyed visiting Dr. Arend’s dental practice since we moved to the Portland area in 2001. We all agree it is great having a perfectionist for a dentist. Thanks for all your care Dr. Joy!” -Jamie K.”
Happy National Dental Hygiene Month from all of us at East Portland Dentistry! Call 503-253-0226 to schedule your appointment with Portland dentist Dr. Joy Arend and her team of busy dental hygienists.