In this blog from Aloe Dental Wellness in CA, we go over the differences between a dentist and a dental hygienist. While you may expect to see both a dentist and a dental hygienist at our office in Goleta, CA, you may be wondering how these trained oral health professionals are similar and different. Below, we explain.
What Does A Dental Hygienist Do?
As an orthodontic professional, a dental hygienist is responsible for the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. They perform teeth cleaning, removing plaque, tartar, and stains from teeth, and examine patients for oral diseases. To perform their duties, dental hygienists may use a variety of hand, power, and ultrasonic tools. Their preventative care roles include giving patients a fluoride rinse, applying sealants on teeth to prevent cavities, and taking X-rays of a patient’s teeth and gums.
Dental hygienists help to promote good oral health by teaching patients the importance of regular tooth brushing, flossing, and preventing cavities. However, should a cavity require more in-depth care, such as diagnosing and filling it, that is the responsibility of a dentist.
Thanks to the extensive education and training of dental hygienists, dentists can devote more time to complex orthodontic procedures. A dental hygienist is also able to share any discoveries they make while examining a patient in order to ensure they receive the best treatment possible. All dental hygienists are required to possess a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree and obtain state licensure. A registered dental hygienist (R.D.H.) is one who has achieved the highest level of certification.
What Does A Dentist Do?
Dentists possess a wide range of abilities when it comes to treating their patients. While they can do everything a dental hygienist can do, they are the only dental professional legally permitted to repair physical damage to a tooth. Dentists train for eight years, at a minimum, following four years of undergraduate schooling and four years of dental school. For those who decide to specialize, they may need to complete additional years of training and obtain a license for their specialty in order to become an orthodontist, periodontist, or oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
If you look at the end of your dentist’s name, you may find an abbreviation such as D.D.S or D.M.D. The first stands for “Doctor of Dental Surgery” and the second for “Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry” or “Doctor of Dental Medicine”. These signify that the dentist has graduated from an accredited dental school. A DDS and a DMD are both qualified to practice dentistry as they have the same education and curriculum. The abbreviation is dependent on which degree the university they attended chooses to award.
Both Dental Hygienists And Dentists Help You Keep Your Smile Healthy
Dr. Cadavid was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, where she started her dental career. She comes from a long line of family dentists and decided to continue with the tradition. In 2010, Dr. Cadavid graduated as a dentist and began to work in private practice in Medellin. At the same time, she took part in a research project at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, where she met her husband, Dr. John Feusier, an orthodontist from Santa Barbara. Subsequently, she was accepted into the international program of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, one of the most highly-regarded programs in the world, and underwent two years of post-graduate training.
At Aloe Dental Wellness, you can expect the very best in dental care with Dr. Daniela Cadavid. Before your appointment, you can expect to enjoy soothing music and fresh coffee, tea, and water in our relaxing patient lounge. Our office is a child-friendly, family-oriented environment, and we pride ourselves on the ability to make patients of all ages comfortable.
Dr. Cadavid is glad to offer a brand-new office equipped with the latest technology and services in both English and Spanish to UCSB students and staff, as well as the surrounding communities. Aloe Dental Wellness in Santa Barbara County is proud to provide general, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry services to meet the needs of your entire family as well. For an appointment, call us at 805-454-7727 today.
