Dental Assisting Program

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Dental Hygiene Home Page

Frequently Asked Questions (con't)

Question:

How is dental hygiene different from dental assisting? Do courses taken in Dental Assisting transfer into Dental Hygiene?

Answer:

A dental hygienist is a graduate of a two-year, Associate Degree program while formally trained dental assistants are graduated from one-year diploma programs. Hygienists MUST pass clinical and written exams to be licensed and eligible to practice in the State of North Carolina while a dental assistant does not. As would be expected, salaries for dental hygienists are higher than those of dental assistants. The dental hygienist works under the supervision of the dentist to provide oral examinations, dental prophylaxis, dental radiographs, and oral health education to patients. The dental assistant on the other hand works at chair side with the dentist (preparing materials, passing instruments, evacuating fluids and debris) and performs other functions such as dental x-rays, laboratory procedures, office management procedures (appointment control, supply inventory, patient recall, chart management), infection control (cleaning operatories, sterilizing instruments, wearing personal protection equipment) and patient education. Both team members are highly recruited and are valuable assets to a dental practice.

This is the end of Frequently Asked Questions concerning the Dental Assisting Program.