What does it take to be a dental hygienist? As if scraping plaque and tartar from teeth wasn't fun enough, the job is more involved than you think. According to Jada A. Grave on Money.usnews.com, the main idea on this topic lies in the understood duties of a general dental hygienist. The dental hygienist primarily focuses on preventative care of dental hygiene rather than the damage already caused. They also educate and inform patients about the best over-the-counter medications to relieve their pain, and talk to them about flossing and brushing habits to prevent future damage to teeth and gums. The main goals of a dental hygienist are to perform dental prophylaxis, oral cancer screening and x-ray investigations, as well as chart caries and disease conditions of patients. In conclusion, Pam Quinones, a licensed dental hygienist with more than 30 years of experience and past president of the American Dental Hygienists' Association, says, "When we see a patient's health improve, we know we have did our job and hopefully encouraged a lifetime of good health habits. » A dental hygienist's duties can be stressful, they begin by preparing the treatment room for the patient according to protocols. Next, they prepare the patient for dental care by sitting them down and discussing any questions or concerns they may have about their visit that day. The hygienist then proceeds to sterilize, sharpen and arrange the instruments according to the needs related to the patient's oral health. The hygienist then detects possible diseases using an oral cancer screen, visually and physically examining the gums, and then uses probes to locate periodontal disease. This profession requires a quality understanding of the body due to the diseases carried...... middle of paper ......ty or public health establishment and a license is required. To become a dental hygienist, you must graduate from dental hygienist school, pass a National Board dental hygiene exam, pass the State Board dental hygiene exam, your school transcripts, your letters of recommendation and pass the state Junspudence exam. All requirements vary by state and may have different rules, but all dental hygienists must be licensed by the state in which they work. (http://www.adha.org/education-careers) The dental hygiene field of work is competitive, difficult, and time consuming, but after all the information I found while researching for this article, I have found it to be a very respectful and great career to be interested in and work for. -careers www.adha.org Unixl.com/dir/dental-hygieniste/louisiana/