health team, other than the dentist, licensed to provide direct care to the patient. The diverse duties of the dental hygienist include oral prophylaxis (cleaning), exposing, processing and mounting radiographs, collecting and evaluating medical history information, performing health and neck screening examinations, and applying agents for the prevention of decay. Other functions include assessing the condition of the periodontium (gums) and providing periodontal therapy including root planing and curettage, applying desensitizing and antimicrobial agents, and administering local infiltration anesthesia and nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia.

The dental hygienist also acts as a dental health educator and is responsible for teaching patients to prevent dental disease and for providing nutritional counseling. As the work involves contact with the public, the Dental Hygienist must communicate well, have physical stamina, good eyesight and manual skills. The ability to remember details and to teach are also necessary.

Dental hygiene employment opportunities are numerous. They include general practice and specialty dental offices; federal, state, county and city health clinics; public schools, hospitals, dental schools, industrial clinics, the armed services, and research institutions.