The second week of April is Dental Hygienist Week, and it’s never too early to start celebrating! After all, your hygienist does a lot more than you may have realized. Your dentist might be the one diagnosing problems and performing major treatments, but dental hygienists do a lot behind the scenes to make your routine checkups and cleanings positive and productive. The next time you visit your dentist’s office, tell your hygienist you appreciate them – here are four reasons why!
1. They’re a Friendly, Familiar Face
Even though you’ll probably only see your dental hygienist twice a year, they’ll make every effort to truly get to know you. They’ll chat with you about your job, family, and hobbies; that way, they’ll know you as a human being and not just a set of teeth. After just a few visits, you’ll automatically feel more comfortable when you see your hygienist, making for a more pleasant appointment overall.
2. They’re Upbeat, Kindhearted People
Many people understandably feel at least a little nervous in the dental chair, but hygienists are great at helping you feel relaxed and at ease during your visits. They have such positive attitudes and excel at helping your worries melt away. When you’re around them, you just can’t help but smile!
3. They’re Your Smile’s First Line of Defense
Preventive care is the cornerstone of great oral health, and that’s why dental hygienists are essential. The treatments they perform – such as cleanings, fluoride applications, and dental sealants – might be considered basic, but they’re critical in keeping cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues at bay. For example, there are certain areas of your mouth that you simply can’t reach with your toothbrush and floss. With the advanced instruments that your hygienist has at their disposal, as well as the angle they’re working from, they can get rid of pesky plaque that may have been building up in those areas.
4. They’re Constantly Improving
Dentistry is a field that is constantly evolving, and dentists aren’t the only ones who are keeping up with the latest updates. In fact, it’s estimated that more than half of all dental hygienists take at least 20 hours of continuing education courses per year to sharpen their skills.
Even though Dental Hygienist Week is coming up, these folks deserve appreciation year-round. During your next checkup, be sure to thank your hygienist for all of their hard work!
About the Practice
At Omega Dental of Bedford, our team is led by husband-and-wife dentists Dr. Prashantkumar Gajera and Dr. Julyat Gajera. Of course, they couldn’t do the outstanding work they do without the help of our hygienists! Each of our team members goes above and beyond to make your dental visits comfortable and effective. If it has been a while since your last dental checkup and cleaning, you can schedule your next one in Bedford, TX by reaching out to us via our website or by calling 817-785-3290.