Dental hygienists are educated to assume many time-consuming tasks previously reserved for dentists. Dental hygienists evaluate the patient's dental health, take and process x-ray films, remove calculus deposits, stains, and plaque above and below the gumline. more
In observance of October being national Dental Hygiene Month, the Texas Dental Hygienists' Association will conduct a community-based dental sealant project called "Sealants Across Texas." Throughout the state, various dental hygiene components will participate in providing dental sealants for children. more
Recent research has linked periodontal (gum) disease to heart and lung disease; diabetes; pre-mature, low-birth weight babies; and a number of other systemic diseases. Indeed, the first-ever Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health has called attention to this important connection and concludes that, if left untreated, poor oral health is a "silent X-factor promoting clear the onset of life-threatening diseases which are responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans each year. more