Dental hygienists are allied dental professionals who provide preventive and therapeutic oral health care. They are responsible for cleaning teeth, examining patients for signs of oral disease, and providing patient education on oral hygiene. Dental hygienists typically work under the supervision of a dentist.
In some states, dental hygienists can be promoted to dentists after completing additional education and training. The requirements for promotion vary from state to state, but typically include completing a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene, passing a national board exam, and completing a two-year residency program in dentistry.