A licensed Hartford dental hygienist is someone whose profession revolves around conducting initial patient screenings, cleaning teeth, and advising patients on oral health and preventive care. Hygienists will typically work in a dental office alongside a dentist in case of dental emergencies. Because hygienists are vital for any dental office and hold a lot of responsibility, the licensing process can be tedious. 

When Your License is at Risk

Dental hygienists are generally required to at least have an associate degree, although some universities are now offering bachelor’s degrees for those who wish to pursue this profession. Hartford hygienists must complete a dental hygiene program accredited by the American Dental Association, the ADA recognizes the Commission on Dental Accreditation as the sole accrediting body for dental hygienist programs in the U.S. These CODA programs may be offered at either the associates degree or bachelor’s degree level dependent upon the school. 

After the completion of your CODA program, a hygienist is required to successfully complete the National Board Examination. This exam will assess a number of areas including hygiene sciences and basic dental hygiene information. This is then followed by a clinical performance examination. After everything has been completed, you are then eligible to apply for a state license as a dental hygienist. However, after this point there may come a time where your hard work is threatened by suspension or loss of license. By situations such as this: 

Failure to update patient medical history. Failure to update a patient’s medical history or ask if they have changes in their health could result in injury and lead to malpractice. This could result in the loss of your license if serious enough. 

Negligence. It is a dental hygienist’s responsibility to perform a thorough assessment of every patient. Detecting problems such as a malignant lesion could save a patient’s life, but the non detection of such could result in major health problems that could lead to the loss of one’s license. 

Not protecting patient privacy. In situations where information is shared about a patient either accidentally or intentionally this could result in the loss or suspension of one’s license. 

When You Need a Defense – Call a License Defense Lawyer

Becoming a Hartford dental hygienist is a fulfilling and prosperous career. It takes years of work and experience, but your license is not protected at all costs. If the Connecticut State Dental Commission has contacted you regarding a problem with your license, please reach out to our office for help.