Just like a hospital, dental practices have a range of practitioners, each with their own area of expertise to help you with your dental needs. But what’s the difference between them?
Dental Hygienist
A Dental Hygienist is a qualified oral healthcare professional who focuses on preventive dental care, the diagnoses and treatment of gum disease and the maintenance of good oral hygiene.
Dental Hygienists provide services which include scale and cleans, gum disease assessment and treatments, preventive decay treatments like fluoride and/or calcium treatments and fissure sealants. Oral hygiene and nutritional education, and examinations including taking radiographs (x-rays), intraoral photographs and detailed gum assessments.
Dental Hygienists work in conjunction with the Dentist and Oral Health Therapists, as any procedure that is not within their training will be referred over to the Dentist.
The requirements of a Dental Hygienists are an Advance Diploma of Oral Health (Dental Hygiene) and must be registered to practice with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Oral Health Therapist
Oral Health Therapists are trained to provide treatments for children, adolescents, and some treatments for adults. Oral Health Therapy is the diagnosis and clinical treatment of oral diseases which can occur in the teeth and supporting structures in children and adolescents.
This can include examinations, taking x-rays with preventive treatments like oral hygiene and nutritional education, cleans above and below the gumline, fissure sealants, application of fluoride gels or varnishes and mouthguard impressions. Restorative treatments like fillings on deciduous (baby) and adult teeth along with crowns on deciduous teeth. Also administering local anaesthesia, and extraction of baby teeth.
Oral Health Therapists work in conjunction with Dentists, as any procedure that is not within their training will be referred over to the Dentist.
The requirements of Oral Health Therapy are a Bachelor of Oral Health or equivalent and must be registered to practice with the AHPRA.
Dentist
Dentists are trained professionals who care for the teeth and mouth. Dentists can treat children, adolescent and adults.
Dentists diagnose and treat problems of the gums and teeth. Treatments from Dentists include educating patients on oral hygiene, scale and cleans, fillings, extractions of permanent (adult) and baby teeth, cosmetic dentistry, mouthguards, teeth whitening, x-rays, administering local anaesthesia, fissure sealants, crown and bridge and root canal therapy.
Dentists require a Bachelor of Dental Surgery or Bachelor of Dental Science and must be registered to practice with the AHPRA.
If you’re still unsure which is the best practitioner for you, call the friendly St Lukes Dental team on 1300 354 637. Learn more about St Lukes Dental practices.