Courses of oral hygiene
The dental hygiene process of care has five steps:
- Assessing the patient: This includes, but is not limited to, a full review of the patient’s medical history, necessary x-rays to be taken, a clinical exam, and a periodontal assessment.
- Dental hygiene diagnosis: Assessing of data pertaining to a client’s condition in terms that will help identify problems so as to lead to a creation of an order to apply available professional therapies.The diagnosis of disease in most jurisdictions may only be performed by the doctor.
- Planning: creating a sequential treatment plan for the patient. The treatment plan will vary based on the patient’s immediate needs.
- Implementation: Carrying out the plan.
- Evaluation: Determining the effectiveness of the work that was performed.
Over a period of months or years a dental hygienist may have his or her work evaluated several times, altering the diagnosis and plan numerous times as the client’s condition changes.
