We all love sweets and chocolates, especially children. However excessive eating can damage our teeth and overall well-being. It is necessary to keep our teeth and gums safe to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Dentists and dental hygienists are the professionals who help us preserve and restore our teeth.

You must have heard the term dental hygienist vs dentist somewhere and would have thought about how they are different from each other. Let’s explore the differences and similarities between dental hygienists vs dentist.

What is a Dentist?

A dentist also known as a dental surgeon is a doctor who treats injuries, diseases, and diagnoses related to mouth, jaw, and teeth. They are licensed to practice and perform dental surgeries as well as provide preventative care advice to their patients. 

Role of a Dentist

Dentists or dental doctors are responsible for identifying and treating problems associated with teeth, gums, and other parts of the mouth. They play a very important part in your life as they help you keep dental problems at bay and maintain a better lifestyle. Some of the duties performed by a dentist are given below:

  • Promoting Oral Health
  • Offering Preventative Care
  • Repairing Damaged Teeth
  • Interpreting X-Ray Diagnosis/Reports
  • Performing Root Canal
  • Taking Care of Tooth Decay
  • Treating Cavities

Above mentioned tasks are only the tip of the iceberg. Dentists carry out a set of different tasks and procedures during their day to treat a diverse range of patients. It is necessary for a dentist to be skilled and professional to ensure that the patients can trust them with their dental diseases.

What is a Dental Hygienist?

Many people often mistake a dental hygienist for a dentist and get confused between dental hygienist vs dentist. They do share some common ground when it comes to the field but are not entirely similar to each other. A dental hygienist is more like an assistant to a dentist and mostly helps in preventing and taking care of gum diseases along with cleaning the teeth. 

Role of a Dental Hygienist

Now the question may arise what does a dental hygienist do besides being an assistant to a dentist? Dental hygienists are usually tasked with cleaning teeth and gums by removing plaque and tartar. When you visit your dentist, it is highly likely that you will meet a dental hygienist first who will examine your teeth through an x-ray.  They play an equally important role in your life by educating you on how to take care of your teeth in a better way. Below are some of the tasks handled by a dental hygienist:

  • Cleaning the teeth, gums, and other parts
  • Educating the Patients
  • Offering Fluoride Treatments
  • Taking X-Rays
  • Assist Dentist with Special Procedures
  • Keep Records of Patients and Their Health

Dental Hygienist vs Dentist: Differences

While dentist vs dental hygienist may sound similar and even their duties seem alike, they have a few distinctions that set them apart from each other in some places. The most popular and main difference between them is education and responsibilities. Explore these differences and get to know which one to seek when you’re having a dental problem next time.

Education

Dentist:

Dentists have to complete a total of 8 years of education, starting from 4 years of bachelor’s from a recognized medical school, followed by 4 years of dental school. Once they get the license, they can start practicing at any private or public hospital. They can also specialize in any particular field such as orthodontics, endodontics, or oral surgery which usually takes 2-4 years.

Dental Hygienist:

A dental hygienist only gets 2 years of an associate degree in dental hygiene from any technical school or college. The course mostly teaches about anatomy, radiology, periodontology (gum disease), and preventive dental care.

Responsibilities

Dentist:

There is a slight difference in the responsibilities of dentist vs dental hygienist. A dentist can perform surgeries and treat other dental problems without anyone’s prescription. As mentioned above, a dentist can treat different types of oral problems including tooth decay and creating false teeth.

Dental Hygienist:

Dental hygienists cannot remove your tooth or carry out procedures like cavity filling, root canals, or other types of surgeries. They are responsible for taking X-rays and cleaning the teeth along with providing patients with advice and instructions related to oral health.

Choosing Between Dental Hygienist vs Dentist

Identifying and seeking the right professional for your issue is crucial as it can either help you out or worsen the situation. It is necessary for you to know the difference between a dental hygienist vs dentist so that you can easily get rid of your problem. 

A professional and skilled doctor can find the solution to your problem for instance an unprofessional or untrained dental hygienist may damage or crack your tooth while cleaning it. Moreover, if you are looking to get a whitening treatment for your teeth, then it is better to see a dentist rather than a dental hygienist as it is not their area of expertise. 

How Can We Take Care of Our Teeth?

There are different ways you can take care of your oral health all by yourself. Here are different habits that will help you achieve your best smile:

  • Brushing teeth twice a day
  • Reducing the amount of Carbohydrates
  • Flossing once a day
  • Avoid eating sugary food at night
  • Visit your dentist or dental hygienist every 6 months
  • Quit Smoking
  • Change your toothbrush after every 3 or 4 months

These are some ways we can maintain good oral health. It is better to consult a dentist or a dental hygienist for more in-depth and detailed dental procedures. Your dentist can cater to you in a specialized way according to your problem and condition. 

Conclusion

We hope that by the time you reach here, you must have identified the thin line distinguishing a dentist from a dental hygienist. Both are from the same field but have a different scope of work and patients. Understanding the distinctions between them is important to treat your issue accordingly and efficiently.

Our teeth and gums are vital parts of our body and require proper care and treatment when needed. It is our responsibility to protect them from diseases and any type of damage. There are various dental clinic in Abu Dhabi that offer world-class dental health facilities with trained professionals. Canadian Medical Center Abu Dhabi is also one of them providing you with a satisfactory and refreshing dental experience.