How do dental hygienists differ from dental assistants?
Both are highly trained professional individuals which people often incorrectly refer to as “nurses”. The Dental Hygienists is the person who cleans your teeth. They must attend two years of dental hygiene s school and become licensed in their state of practice. In order to keep their license current they must attend continuing education. Through legislation, they may now be trained to perform many expanded duties such as administer local anesthetic (they can numb patients). In certain states they can even practice solo, although few choose to do so. In Illinois, under the general supervision law, it is possible for your hygienist to clean your teeth without the dentist on premises. This is provided you have had a dentist look at your teeth within the past year. Should it ever be necessary for Dr. Colbert or Dr. Fiersten to be absent, you will be informed if the hygienist is going to clean your teeth without a doctor on the premises to do your exam. The dental assistant is the person w
