What is a Dental Assistant?
An assistant is sometimes referred to as dental nurse who has taken up and graduated a dental assistant training. The assistant's duty is to serve and assist the dentist by giving out health care to patients. The dental nurse carries out duties in the dental office.
What is a Dental Hygienist?
The dental hygienist also assists the dentist in carrying out procedures and treatments. The hygienist is licensed and can perform treatments and procedures themselves, which a dental assistant is not allowed to perform.
Duties of a Dental Nurse or Assistant
The dental nurse is the one who takes the duties in the dental office. He or she is concerned of making each patient comfortable. He or she receives the patients and assists them during the treatment. He or she obtains the patients' information, taking note of the signs and symptoms of the illnesses and diseases afflicting them, and asking them about their medical history. The dental assistant is the one in charged of sterilizing and disinfecting the equipment and instruments in the dental clinic.
Duties of a Hygienist
The hygienist is also an assistant to the dentist. He or she performs tasks to help the dentist in certain procedures and operations. They also do the cleaning of the patient's teeth. He or she also checks the teeth and gums of the patients and making it sure that they do not have any disease. The dental hygienist could also take and process dental x-rays and help out with the fillings. He or she also applies fluoride on the patients' teeth after cleaning.
Salary of an Assistant
An assistant's average pay in an hour is around $14-$17 (US). Some of the dental assistants enjoy the privileges of coverage of dental procedures and other health services.
Salary of a Hygienists
The hygienist's average pay per hour is around $30. This is about twice as big as the assistant's salary.
Other Information about a Dental Assistant and a Dental Hygienist
The hygienist takes more courses and is required of higher education compared to the dental assistant. The dental nurse or assistant training is a precursor to becoming a dental hygienist. Before anybody could become a dental hygienist, one must learn to perform all the tasks of an assistant. The hygienist must be an assistant first. Both of them perform and work for and with the dentist. They both assist the dentist; however, there are times that an assistant works under the supervision of a dental hygienist. Nonetheless, both of them perform a very essential role in the dental clinic. The training that is required of from the dental hygienist is also about twice as of the dental assistant. The hygienist trains for at least two years at school. Aside from such training, the hygienist is sometimes required of associate degree to be able to work as a dental hygienist. The degree could be that of a bachelor's degree or sometimes a master's degree. If you are planning of being a dental hygienist, an excellent dental assistant trainings a good start for your training.
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