Orthodontic Hygienist vs Dental Hygienist
Working in orthodontics is a great way to expand your career as a dental hygienist. Branching out to work with different specialties will expand your skills and help prolong your career. Both an orthodontic hygienist vs dental hygienist play vital roles in dentistry to improve the health of others.
In this article, we will compare an orthodontic hygienist vs dental hygienist to help you decide if specializing in orthodontics is right for you.
Table of Contents
Orthodontic Hygienist vs Dental Hygienist
There are many opportunities for dental hygienists to expand their careers and provide care in different specialties. The main difference between an orthodontic hygienist vs dental hygienist is their skill level.
Orthodontic hygienists are licensed dental hygienists who have trained and acquired specific skills to care for orthodontic patients. Dental hygienists assist the orthodontist in performing certain treatments that dental assistants cannot complete.
What is an Orthodontic Hygienist?
Orthodontic hygienists play a crucial role in the orthodontic team, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of orthodontic care. They help orthodontists with diagnosis, treatment planning, and complex procedures while ensuring patients receive the necessary care and guidance during their orthodontic journey.
Duties
Orthodontic hygienists play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of an orthodontic practice. The different duties of an orthodontic hygienist vs dental hygienist are:
Assembling Patient Records
- Assisting in taking X-rays or other radiographic images as part of the diagnosis and treatment planning process.
- Collecting photos of every single angle of the patient’s teeth and bite.
- Obtaining patient measurements such as overjet, overbite, and bite classification
Orthodontic Procedures
- Assisting the orthodontist during various procedures by placing brackets adjusting wires, or fitting orthodontic appliances.
- Removing bracket blue and other materials used in orthodontics.
Labwork Preparation
- Collecting a scan or an impression to provide a model for the dental lab to make orthodontic appliances.
- Working directly with the dental lab to facilitate between the patient, orthodontist, and lab technicians.
Appliance Adjustment and Maintenance
- Making adjustments to braces, wires, and other orthodontic appliances as directed by the orthodontist.
- Providing instructions to patients on how to care for and maintain their orthodontic appliances.
Patient Preparation and Education
- Providing information and educating patients about orthodontic procedures, treatment plans, and proper oral hygiene practices.
Orthodontic Hygienists vs Orthodontic Assistants
Orthodontic hygienists and orthodontic assistants are both important in working with the orthodontist and their patients. Both provide similar support to the team and assist the orthodontist in several procedures.
Orthodontic hygienists can provide more care than assistants and can be more valuable to orthodontists. These tasks include using a high-speed handpiece to remove bracket glue and other materials. Scaling calculus in certain areas is also important to facilitate teeth movement is also important.
Orothondic hygienists free up the orthodontist and help with patient care and office workload. This can improve efficiency, allow more patients to be seen, and increase office production.
Expanding the Dental Hygiene Profession
Working in different dental specialties and learning different skills will help improve your career and make you a valuable asset to your dental team. Working for an orthodontic office can also make your career more enjoyable by performing various treatments outside the typical dental cleaning.
Check out our other articles for dental hygienists below.
Take Home Smile Store
Visit our Take Home Smile Store for educational products and printables to help with oral hygiene in patients and improve your daily workflow. Some products even come with a customizable feature to support your dental office.
