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Graduates must also be competent in providing the dental hygiene process of care, which includes:

a) Comprehensive collection of patient data to identify the physical and oral health status.

b) Analysis of assessment findings and use of critical thinking in order to address the patient’s dental hygiene treatment needs.

c) Establishment of a dental hygiene care plan that reflects the realistic goals and treatment strategies to facilitate optimal oral health.

d) Provision of patient-centered treatment and evidence-based care in a manner minimizing risk and optimizes oral health.

e) Measurement of the extent to which goals identified in the dental hygiene care plan are achieved.

f) Complete and accurate recording of all documentation relevant to patient care.

Educational Preparation   

The registered dental hygienist (RDH) or licensed dental hygienist (LDH) is educationally prepared for practice upon graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program (associate, post-degree certificate, or baccalaureate) within an institution of higher education and qualified by successful completion of a national written board examination and state or regional clinical examination for licensure. 

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Definition Of Dental Hygiene Practice

Dental hygiene is the science and practice of recognition, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases and conditions as an integral component of total health. The dental hygienist is a primary care oral health professional who has graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education, licensed in dental hygiene to provide education, assessment, research, administrative, diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic services that support overall health through the promotion of optimal oral health. 

In practice, dental hygienists integrate multiple roles to prevent oral diseases and promote health. Dental hygienists work in partnership with all members of the dental team. Dentists and dental hygienists practice together as colleagues, each offering professional expertise with the goal of providing optimum oral health care to the public.

The distinct roles of the dental hygienist and dentist complement and augment the effectiveness of each professional and contribute to a collaborative environment. Dental hygienists are:

• Viewed as experts in their field

• Consulted about appropriate dental hygiene interventions

• Expected to make clinical dental hygiene decisions

• Expected to plan, implement, and evaluate the dental hygiene component of the overall care plan. All states define their specific dental hygiene practice scope and licensure requirements.

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