I know we have one here...

What is the difference between an enlisted dental hygienist and a civilian dental hygienist (on post)? Can they do the same procedures?

I can email you specifics, but based off a conversation I had today, I would like to know.

The enlisted 68EX2 can do limited cleanings that only involve plaque and calculus above the gumline. They have been to a several month training after their initial AIT and are operating under the license of the dentist. Many states allow for this to be done by a dental assistant, but it is not common in practice because it is a rare cleaning that stays above the gumline.

The civilians are trained in two year programs (plus some college pre-reqs) in the civilian world. They are licensed by a state. They can do hygiene procedures that go below the gumlines. Often the procedures are significant enough to merit local anesthesia. In some states than can administer local anesthesia themselves.

In practice, it works well in our system because the average twenty-XX year old will not have any perio disease, but our soldiers often have lots of crap to knock off of teeth. If you want to give specifics, I can tailor my answer a bit better.

can take it off line at:

j ewing dds at gmail
or
james dot c dot ewing at US ...

thanks...that is what i was talking about...if i find time, i'll email you offline.

I have nothing to do with this thread but just think it's cool that we can help each other out like this. It's good to be an Aggie!

Yep, cool thing for Ags helping one another. I am really glad to see a chopper jockey getting his teef fixed.

Ha, well what I learned is that if you take a cleaning once a year...and have a deployment in between, ask for a dental hygienist. That or floss.

Besides, gotta have pearly white teeth when I pick you up at the LZ.

On a side note, this is turning out to be a good forum given the help I've seen passed around.

Also, policy on most posts is that you can get a cleaning twice a year...you just have to ask for it.

Let me correct you. I am a 68EX2 and we are allowed to go subgingival. We are taught on retires in Fort Sam and most of the time go 3-4 mm below the gumline. We when get back to our duty stations we are allowed to go 2 mm below, do we go lower than that, yes we do. The one thing we arent allowed to do is scaling and root planning because that is a RDH's job because they can give the anesetic.

So it must be local policy or at least the last two posts where I got my teeth cleaned. Must be even more.. if you notice in the OP, I did not tell Endo what I was trying to figure out.

That is strange and a waste.

[This message has been edited by Fly Army 97 (edited 5/30/2011 7:37a).]

I agree with EndoAg (Even though he is a knuckle head). Most X2s, though they maybe trained to do subgingival instrumentation, are not credentialed too. As EndoAg said, just ask for cleanings twice a year. But dont ask EndoAg do it - trust me.........

Hey Fly, Had my teeth cleaned here at Hood last Friday at the inprocesssing center. When I inprocessed dental the day before I asked about a cleaning and they of course said I would have to do it at my assigned clinic. Well, I laughed and said that they knew that would take forever and I'm deploying in a couple weeks so I would be surprised to see if it happens. The dentist, a young captain, said hang on sir and ran up to the front desk. He got me in with his folks at 1000 the next day. Great kid, motivated, pro-active and taking care of troops....How the Army should be! Try it when you get here.

Will do. Thanks for the head's up. My unit is already waiting for me to hop on a plane. No rest for the rested.

Fly...email me at the address above. I need your full SSN. I can get you scheduled now. Won't be at work until Wednesday though.

Cav: Which clinic did you get assigned to?

[This message has been edited by Endo Ag (edited 6/6/2011 6:28p).]

Clinic 3. I'm in 1st CAV DHHB.