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October is National Dental Hygiene Month

© Tracey Ryan

Welcome to October! There are many aspects to dental hygiene--brushing, flossing, regular trips to the dental office--but this month I'd like to focus on the HYGIENIST herself, or himself, as the case my be. The hygienist is the person who "cleans" your teeth and educates you on proper dental care. This person is a graduate of an ACCREDITED dental hygiene program, has passed both a clinical and written board exam (an eight-hour exam), is licensed by the state government, and possesses an A.S. degee, or in many instances, a B.S. degree. Many states, (including New York and Connecticut, where I am licensed) require continuing education credits to re-new your license.

Unfortunately, there are movements in this country to "de-license" dental hygienists--PRECEPTORSHIP-as it is known, in order to eliminate the so-called shortage of dental hygienists.

The following article is being circulated on the Internet--and I felt compelled to share it with you all. Please say "NO" to on-the-job training for licensed professionals--would you want your chiropractor, hair dresser,nurse,optometrist,physical therapist,certified public accountant, or dentist to be "on-the-job" trained without benefit of a proper education and license? Think about it.

Got Teeth? Thank Your Registered Dental Hygienist.

The next time you go to your dental office for an examination and cleaning, ask them if the person who will be performing your oral cancer

screening, comprehensive exam for gum disease, cavity screening, preventive prophylaxis (cleaning), polish, fluoride treatment , sealants, non-surgical periodontal therapy, periodontal maintenance therapy and/or oral hygiene instructions, is a Registered Dental Hygienist.

There is a frightening movement in this country to allow untrained, uneducated personnel to become "preceptor hygienists." What this means is that a dentist can take anyone off the street and "train" them in the office to perform the duties of a Registered Dental Hygienist.

Why is this so frightening, you might ask? It is disturbing especially in this day and age when researchers are continually finding more and more evidence that there is a definite connnection between periodontal disease (gum disease) and heart disease, diabetes, and premature and low birth weight babies. It is essential that patients receive early detection and treatment of gum disease to lower their risk factors for these systemic diseases. Registered Dental Hygienists spends most of their schooling studying and treating this disease.

It is also scary to think that someone who will have very little knowledge of the proper position of very sharp (if you're lucky and the person knows to sharpen them) instruments will be able to put those instruments under your gums!

Schooling to become a Registered Dental Hygienist includes classes in Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacy, Chemistry, Head and Neck