Important Facts About Dental Hygienists
Who Is the Dental Hygienist?
Dental hygienists are licensed oral
health professionals who focus on preventing
and treating oral diseases-both to protect teeth and gums, and also to protect
patients' total health. They are graduates of accredited dental hygiene education
programs in colleges and universities, and must take written and clinical
exams before they are allowed to practice. In addition to treating patients
directly, dental hygienists also work as educators, researchers, and administrators.
What Do Dental Hygienists Do?
Each state has its own specific regulations and the range of services performed
by dental hygienists vary from one state to another. As part of dental hygiene
services, dental hygienists may:
Where Do Dental Hygienists Work?
Dental hygienists can work as
clinicians, educators, researchers, administrators,
managers, preventive program developers, consumer advocates, sales and marketing
managers, editors, and consultants. Clinical dental hygienists may work in
a variety of health care settings such as private dental offices, schools,
public health clinics, hospitals, managed care organizations, correctional
institutions, or nursing homes.
What Does the "RDH" Designation Mean?
The "RDH" means Registered Dental Hygienist. The RDH credential
identifies a dental hygienist as a licensed oral health professional. State
licensure requirements typically indicate that a dental hygienist must graduate
from an accredited dental hygiene education program, successfully pass a national
written examination, and a state or regional clinical examination. (In Indiana,
the designation LDH [Licensed Dental Hygienist] is used instead of RDH.)
How Can I Get More Information about RDHs?
Please contact the American Dental Hygienists' Association-the largest national
organization representing the professional interests of the more than 120,000
licensed dental hygienists nationwide by visiting us on the Internet at the
ADHA website.