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This question is about what a dental hygienist does.
Dental Hygienist vs. Dentist
A dental hygienist is a dental professional who provides general teeth care, while a dentist is a doctor that can provide more skilled treatment.
Dental hygienists perform many duties in a dentist's office. They clean a patient's teeth to prevent disease and may assist the dentist in more complicated dental procedures, such as a root canal. Dental hygienists are not doctors, however, they are certified dental professionals.
A dentist is a doctor that specializes in oral health. They are also known as dental surgeons. Dentists focus on the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of oral health issues involving the teeth, gums, and mouth.
Here are the key differences between a dental hygienist and a dentist:
| A dental hygienist is a certified dental professional. | A dentist is a doctor that specializes in oral health. |
| A dental hygienist provides general teeth care to patients, and assists a dentist in certain oral procedures. | A dentist focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of oral health issues involving the teeth, gums, and mouth of patients. |
| A dental hygienist typically works for a dentist. | A dentist is above a dental hygienist in the dental hierarchy. |
| A dental hygienist has an average salary of $78,311 per year. | A dentist has an average salary of $175,651 per year. |
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