who is a registered dental hygienist?
Registered Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who complete either a 2 or 4 year Dental Hygiene Program at an accredited college or university. They must take both a written national board examination, and a clinical examination before they are licensed to practice. They specialize in preventing and treating oral diseases to protect the teeth, gums, and overall oral health of their patients. In addition to treating patients directly, dental hygienists may also work as educators, researchers, and administrators.
What our hygienists can do for you...
Perform oral health care assessments that including the review of your health history, dental charting, oral cancer screening, and evaluation of gum disease / health
Expose and interpret dental radiographs (x-rays)
Remove plaque and calculus (“tartar”) from above and below the gumline using specialized instruments
Administer local anesthetics and / or nitrous oxide
Apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and sealants to teeth
Provide education on proper oral hygiene techniques, plaque control, and help develop individualized home-care routines for each patient
Provide education on how nutrition, smoking, and other factors may play a role in oral and overall health.
Prevention is key...
Did you know you can prevent dental disease through regular home-care and dental checkups?
Daily brushing, flossing and the use of fluoridated mouth rinse before bed can help prevent dental diseases such as gum disease and cavities. Our registered Dental Hygienists are experts at evaluating and treating your periodontal health. Through evaluation, regular check ups, and cleanings, they will help you prevent oral conditions that can cause pain, missed work or school, and embarrassment.
Meet the girls behind the mask...
Rachael RDH
Rachael has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2011, and been with Mullen Family Dentistry since 2015, and our patients love her. She likes working with nervous patients and showing them that hygiene visits can be thorough, without being uncomfortable. She never minds taking the extra steps to limit pain in the dental chair.
Outside the office, Rachael loves doing anything outdoors! She has a passion for health and nutrition, and loves to stay active. You can find her hiking, hunting, snowboarding in the winter, or at the lake in the summer. She loves the sunshine! She also enjoys just spending time with her husband and sweet baby boy.
Valerie, RDH
Valerie joined our team in 2018 and is a joy to work with!! She has a sweet nature that makes our patients feel at ease. She enjoys seeing the transformation that patients make when they come in regularly. She is very detailed in educating her patients and is happy to answer all of their questions.
When Valerie isn’t taking care of patients, she likes spending time with her husband Chris in the outdoors. Fishing and off-roading are some of their favorite activities. She’s also a big animal lover at heart.