Specialties and roles
Dental hygienist
Also called RDH, hygienist
A licensed professional who cleans teeth, checks gums and teaches patients how to care for their mouths.
A dental hygienist is a licensed oral health professional who performs cleanings, takes X-rays, measures gum pockets, applies fluoride and sealants, and teaches home care. Rules about what hygienists may do, and how closely a dentist must supervise, vary by state and province. Hygienists often have their own schedule column, and their appointment types and lengths are among the most important to get right at booking.
Example at the front desk
The hygienist schedule is full Thursday, so I offered her Friday morning.
US and Canada
Scope of practice and supervision rules differ between states and provinces, and in some Canadian provinces hygienists can run independent practices.