· Dental assistants have been certified to help a dentist as s/he treats the patient. This includes prep, passing tools and clean up and sterilization after a procedure is completed. They typically take a patient’s x-rays, help counsel the patient on proper oral care (including aftercare), take dental impressions, and maintain organization and sterilization of the dental supplies and instruments.
· A dental hygienist must have further training, as s/he is more hands-on and has further technical training compared to a dental assistant. She is responsible to promote oral health or her patient, as well as educating and helping patients develop the skills they need to have a healthy smile. One of the more important aspects of a hygienist’s job that requires the extensive training is providing the treatments necessary to halt gum disease in its tracks and maintain healthy gum tissue and teeth. It is her duty to clean the teeth by scaling plaque and tartar buildup, removing stains, and she is also certified to administer local anesthetic injections.