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by removing soft deposits and hard deposits. A dental hygien- ist is trained to remove calculus (also known as tartar), plaque , and stains from a patient’s teeth. Using a variety of tools, den- tal hygienists remove these deposits above and below the gum line. They then use an ultrasonic tool to polish the teeth. Dental hygienists also routinely give patients treatments to pre- vent cavities, such as fluoride and sealants . In some states, dental hygienists can perform oral care pro- cedures, such as cleaning and removing plaque and tartar, without the collaboration or supervision of a dentist. In these situations, dental hygienists may own their own practice, where several dental hygienists clean patients’ teeth but refer patients to dentists for fillings and more complex procedures.

Since patients spend more time at home caring for their teeth than dental hygien- ists do in their office, patient education is one of the most important things a den- tal hygienist does.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

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