To those who aren’t involved in the dental industry, it’s easy to mix up a dental assistant and a dental hygienist or even assume both are the same. While they do work under a dentist, they perform different roles and interact differently with patients. So, what’s the difference between a dental assistant and a dental hygienist? 

What Is A Dental Assistant?

A dental assistant performs many tasks, ranging from patient care and taking x-rays to record-keeping and scheduling appointments. Most visibly, you may see them pass instruments during your dental appointment. They’re often the first person you interact with and help you before and after meeting your dentist. 

They differ from dental hygienists in that hygienists can perform unsupervised work on their patients while dental assistants cannot. 

What Does a Dental Assistant Do?

Other duties of a dental assistant include:

• Assisting with dental procedures such as fillings, crowns and tooth extractions
• Taking dental impressions 
• Preparing patients for surgery
• Preparing examination areas
• Cleaning up after procedures
• Sterilizing equipment
• Explaining proper dental hygiene to patients

What Is A Dental Hygienist?

On the other hand, a dental hygienist plays a vital role in preventative care and supporting patients’ oral health by providing educational, clinical, and therapeutic services. During your dental checkup, they’ll examine your teeth and gums to look out for signs of oral health issues like tooth decay and gum disease. 

What Does A Dental Hygienist Do?

A day in the life of a dental hygienist can look like this:

• Reviewing people's medical history, administering oral cancer screenings and even taking blood pressure and pulse
• Performing dental x-rays
• Removing plaque and tartar, polishing teeth and applying fluoride to strengthen the teeth 
• Teaching you oral hygiene skills like how to brush your teeth, floss, clean your tongue and eat nutritiously for better oral health.
• Taking dental impressions

There’s often overlap in duties between a dental hygienist and a dental assistant. Ultimately, duties between both occupations can vary depending on the dental clinic you visit. Dental Image Therapy Centres have both dental hygienists and dental assistants in our team.

If you or your child are curious about a career in dentistry, feel free to visit us at our Winnipeg clinics at St. Vital Centre and Garden City Shopping Centre for answers to your dental questions. We’re here for all our patients and we’re happy to help you in any way we can. Book your appointment now.