Dental Hygiene: Home

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A career as a dental hygienist offers a wide range of challenges. In the dental office, the dentist and the dental hygienist work together to meet the oral health needs of patients. Since each state has its own specific regulations regarding their responsibilities, the range of services performed by hygienists varies from state to state.

Some of the services provided by dental hygienists may include:

• patient screening procedures; such as assessment of oral health conditions, review of the health history, oral cancer screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting and taking blood pressure and pulse
• taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
• removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth
• applying preventive materials to the teeth (e.g., sealants and fluorides)
• teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health;(e.g., toothbrushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
• counseling patients about good nutrition and its impact on oral health
• making impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs)
• performing documentation and office management activities

From the ADA

Fall River Campus
774-357-2105

Monday - Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 
Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Saturday 
11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 
Sunday
Closed

New Bedford Campus
774-357-4009

Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

Attleboro Campus
774-357-3745

Monday - Thursday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

Taunton Center
774-357-4001

Monday
10:00am - 4:00PM
Wednesday
9:00am - 2:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
CLOSED
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED