The Differences Between a Dentist And A Hygienist
- By Mary Marks
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- 17 Oct, 2018
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A dentist completes a bachelor's degree at a dental school, after having completed at least a two-year program at a university. To practice, the dentist needs a license, obtained after passing an exam, which includes a written and a practical examination.
Once the dentist acquires a license, they can start practicing, and you need a specific license to be a Colorado sedation dentistry office. The primary responsibility of a dentist is to diagnose any problem with the teeth. A dentist examines X-rays, fixes teeth, applies sealing materials to the teeth, performs corrective surgery, injections, fillings, root canal obturations, creates dental crowns, prostheses and much more. A dentist also prescribes medication, administers anesthetics and may have additional studies that make them a specialist.
A dental hygienist, on the other hand, only has a two-year associate diploma and a practice license. Hygienists remove any kind of soft and harsh deposits from the teeth and teach patients how to practice adequate and preventive oral hygiene. A hygienist cleanses the teeth, uses sealing materials and performs other dental operations such as bleaching and fluoridation.





Although oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch is one of the optionsavailable for managing anxiety and discomfort during oral surgery, you certainly do not need to use it all the time. As a matter of fact, the exact type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive during oral procedures may depend on various factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, your medical problems, as well as your doctor’s preferences.
There can be several different levels of sedation that can be used in oral surgery. Local anesthesia is one of them. This involves injecting anesthetic medication into the specific area where the surgery will take place. It numbs the area and is often used for less invasive procedures.
Oral sedation involves taking medication in the form of a pill to induce a state of relaxation and drowsiness. The patient is still conscious, but he/she may not be fully aware of the procedure. At any rate, sedation helps him/her get rid of anxiety.
In the case of intravenous sedation, medication is administered through a vein, which induces a deeper state of sedation than oral sedation. Patients may still be conscious, but they are less aware of their surroundings and may not remember the procedure.




