An excellent question, thanks for asking! A dental hygienist is a licensed professional who is allowed to clean deposits of plaque and tartat off of teeth both above and below the gums. They are called an RDH—Registered Dental Hygienist because they have completed years of schooling and passed a state board exam giving them a hygiene license. Hygienists are allowed to administer local anesthetic (Novocain), take x-rays, apply dental sealants, and a whole laundry list of other duties. What they are not allowed to do is diagnose dental disease or problems. This is the job of the Dentist. Hygienists are incredibly important and special people—who else would want to clean the gunk off your teeth and smile while doing it? And who else can lecture you about brushing and flossing quite like them?

Yours in good (dental) health,

Dr. Stefanie Shore, DDS

Sacramento Dentist, Carmichael Dentist, Fair Oaks Dentist, Orangevale Dentist, Citrus Heights Dentist