100 Years of Dental Hygiene
The hygienist is amazing!” — A happy Marconi Dental Group patient
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association is celebrating 100 Years of Dental Hygiene in 2013. The first dental hygienists were trained by Dr. Alfred Fones, a dentist in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Dr. Fones trained his assistant, Irene Newman, to care for routine dental cleanings. Realizing the advantages of having a qualified staff member to remove plaque and tartar while educating his patients about oral hygiene, in 1913 Dr. Fones founded the first School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport. After training additional dental hygienists, the first graduates were sent to Connecticut public schools to help children have healthy teeth.
It’s very rewarding to be able to have a positive influence on others and help them achieve oral health. It’s a pleasure to be part of a respected dental team.” — A dental hygienist speaking for the American Dental Association
What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?
The American Dental Association describes the duties of a dental hygienist as follows:
- Perform screening procedures, checking a patient’s state of oral health.
- Taking x-rays of the teeth.
- Remove calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from the teeth.
- Apply preventive materials, like sealants and fluorides, to the teeth.
- Teach patients oral hygiene techniques.
- Teach patients about nutrition and its effect on dental health.
- Make impressions of teeth to construct models of the dentition.
- Help the dentist maintain accurate patient documentation.
The hygienists at the Marconi Dental Group help our dentists by performing these functions on a regular basis.
Training as a Dental Hygienist
Hygienist training can be as simple as qualification in a trade school to programs that provide associate’s, bachelor’s and even master’s degrees. All hygienists have completed significant courses of study in dentistry and oral health, practiced their craft and gained a body of experience before working in private practice. The modern dental office has come to rely on the skilled assistance of dental hygienists. Our Carmichael dental office is no different and we appreciate the work of our hygienists on a daily basis!
Meet our Hygienists!
To meet the hygienists at the Marconi Dental Group, schedule yourself for an appointment for a dental exam and cleaning. You will spend some time with one and have the opportunity to congratulate them on one hundred years of service to the American public. We join the American Dental Hygienists’ Association in celebrating a century of good hygiene in dentistry!
