The sixth program learning outcome adopted from the national competencies for an entry-to-practice dental hygienist is the dental hygienist as a clinical therapist.
According to the a�?Entry-To-Practice Competencies and Standards for Canadian Dental Hygienists January 2010a��, a�?Clinical therapy: The primary, interceptive, therapeutic, preventive, and ongoing care procedures that help to enable people to achieve optimal oral health that contributes to overall health.a�?[1]
This competency is the one that may be viewed as having the greatest importance by students and clients, given that this is the most obvious component of the role of a dental hygienista��this is who you see in the dental office, when going to a dental hygiene appointment, expecting to have your teeth scaled (the physical removal of hard and soft deposits on teeth).
As a result, some examples of abilities that dental hygiene students are expected to demonstrate as clinical therapists are as follows:
- Update the infection control guidelines for the practice.
- Conduct client assessments including a health history, vital signs, and head and neck, intra-oral soft tissue, periodontal, dental and occlusal examinations as well as radiographic findings and other diagnostic tests as appropriate.
- Use recognized abbreviations and terminology in recording client information consistent with office policies.
- Refer clients to physician for high blood pressure based on guidelines from the Heart Associations.
So it is not just the physical removal of the deposits on teeth that account for meeting the clinical therapist competency.A� There is much more to a clinical therapist!
[1] Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA). Policy framework for dental hygiene education. Ottawa, ON: CDHA, 2002.