A very important role of a dental hygienist is to educate patients on proper oral hygiene

care and its relationship to the rest of the body.It is important to be aware that every patient has

different clinical needs and motivations so treatment plans need to be individualized. I have

provided the following documents to show I am proficient and knowledgeable of the preventive

measures in dental hygiene.

In our Preventive Dentistry course, we wrote a research paper about the different bacteria

present in biofilm, its relationship to oral disease and calculus formation. This paper was written

during my first semester of Dental Hygiene school and it seemed like a foreign language at the

time. This knowledge was applied and built upon in every class during the program which has

made me knowledgeable on this topic.

I have included a sealant, polishing and instrumentation proficiency that was completed

in clinic where an instructor assessed my skills and provided feedback on how to improve.

Sealants are a preventive measure where occlusal surfaces with deep pits and grooves are filled

with the sealant material to make them more shallow so pathogenic bacteria is less likely to

cause occlusal caries. Polishing and proper instrumentation are efficient ways to remove plaque

and calculus deposits. These are essential to a dental hygiene appointment and provides the

patient with a “fresh start” when their teeth are plaque and calculus free with smoothed root

surfaces.

I have uploaded a journal article review related to preventive measures. While providing

education and having the knowledge is extremely important, it is also important to practice

proper ergonomics to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Prior to starting the Dental Hygiene

program, I was unaware how taxing this profession can be on the body.