Who is the dental hygienist?

Although the role of dental hygienist is still unfamiliar to a large part of the population, the profession originated in the United States in 1917. While the profession is still relatively new in Belgium, it has already proven its value within the healthcare system in many other countries.

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De mondhygiënist is werkzaam als preventieve zorgprofessional binnen het ruime vakdomein van de tanden mondzorg en kan dan ook in verschillende contexten werkzaam zijn. Zo kan je een mondhygiënist bijvoorbeeld vinden in de tandartspraktijk, het ziekenhuis, in woonzorgcentra, bij het CLB en nog vele andere voorzieningen in de gezondheidszorg. Een mondhygiënist werkt samen met andere medischeen paramedische beroepen binnen de zorg en met bijzondere aandacht voor kwetsbare doelgroepen, maar natuurlijk is iedereen welkom bij de mondhygiënist.

What does a dental hygienist do?

The saying “prevention is better than cure” is something the dental hygienist holds in high regard. As a result, the dental hygienist plays an important preventive role

in which he or she has received extensive training. The tasks performed by a dental hygienist may be carried out independently, on prescription, or as directed by a dentist (specialist) or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The list below provides some examples of what a dental hygienist is qualified and authorized to do.

The medical and dental history questionnaire in the context of preventive oral care

Medical imaging

Manufacturing protective braces and whitening braces

Providing advice on behaviors that can affect oral health (e.g., support for quitting smoking, adjusting dietary habits, etc.)

Applying fluoride varnish

Conducting a preventive dental examination

Performing a professional dental cleaning, including the removal of tartar

Taking dental impressions

And many other tasks within the job description

Bad breath or halitosis: how can you prevent it?

If you think your breath smells bad, that might not actually be the case. That’s because you can’t really smell your own breath. After a while, you get used to certain smells and stop noticing them. Think about the laundry detergent or perfume you use. You won’t notice it yourself anymore, but the people around you will let you know that you smell nice. 

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Bad breath or halitosis: how can you prevent it?

Bad breath or halitosis: how can you prevent it?

If you think your breath smells bad, that might not actually be the case. That’s because you can’t really smell your own breath. After a while, you get used to certain smells and stop noticing them. Think about the laundry detergent or perfume you use. You won’t notice it yourself anymore, but the people around you will let you know that you smell nice. 

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