Dental Assistant or Dental Hygienist: What's the Difference? Because both dental assistants and dental hygienists play supportive roles in dental offices, they might seem interchangeable to those outside the dental industry. However, there are important distinctions between the two jobs. If you are planning to enter either career field, it's important to understand the difference between a dental assistant and dental hygienist because their job duties vary, and the required education and training are different. Dental Assistants Dental assistants are typically responsible for the following tasks: - Working closely with patients before, during and after procedures
- Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
- Taking and developing x-rays
- Preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment
- Taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)
- Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies
- Performing office management
Most dental assisting training programs last between 9 and 11 months, and lead to a certificate or diploma.  Dental Hygienists Dental hygienists provide a wide range of services, primarily in preventative oral health care. They share some of the same duties as dental assistants, such as creating molds and taking x-rays. In addition to these duties, a dental hygienist often performs the following types of tasks: - Collecting information about the patient's oral and medical health history
- Removing calculus, stains and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth
- Making molds of patients' teeth used for evaluating treatment
- Charting patients' dental conditions for the dentist
- Applying fluorides and decay preventatives
- Administering local anesthetics
- Removing sutures and dressings
A dental hygienist will need a 2-year associate's or a 4-year bachelor's degree in dental hygiene in order to qualify for jobs. Some dental hygienists may also pursue a master's degree. Because of their advanced skill set and training, dental hygienists generally qualify for higher pay than dental assistants. Learn more about dental hygienist schools to take the first step toward a dental hygiene career.  |
