Perform Intraoral Procedures Reflection

The main task of a dental hygienist is to perform intraoral procedures. All

treatment performed inside the mouth is an intraoral procedure, and anything

performed outside of the mouth is an extraoral procedure. Intraoral procedures include

scaling, probing, sealants, ultrasonic hand scaling, fluoride varnish application, polishing,

oral cancer screening, local anesthesia, etc. The bulk of preventative care is intraoral.

For this section of my portfolio, I uploaded my sealant proficiency and my

fluoride varnish proficiency. These proficiencies demonstrate my understanding and my

capability of performing preventative intraoral procedures on dental patients. I would

say my favorite intraoral procedure to perform is sealant placement. I like doing

sealants because it is intricate and there are a lot of very specific steps to follow in order

to achieve the best possible outcome. I like the challenge and importance that

performing sealant placement brings. It’s also important for us, as dental hygienists, to

be able to educate our patients on why they would need intraoral procedures like

sealants. Presenting information to our patients in an easy-to-understand way is crucial

in helping them make the right decisions about their care.

In conclusion, intra oral procedures are the backbone of dental hygienist. It is

important we know how to perform at the highest level and we are educated on why

certain procedures should be performed so we can educate our patients.