What is a RDH?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840erlcjm.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists' Association</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists Asso"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A>   |   <B>What is a RDH?</B>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Plaque and Tartar">What is Plaque and Tartar</A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Tooth Decay">What is Tooth Decay</A>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Halitosis (Bad Breath)">Halitosis (Bad Breath)</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04311c00egdysm.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0bb96540.png" border=0 width="150" height="84" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> <img src="HTMLobj-431/aniGif.gif" border="0" align="bottom" width="170" height="110">  </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A></div> <div> <B>What is a RDH?</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Plaque and Tartar">What is Plaque and Tartar</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Tooth Decay">What is Tooth Decay</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Halitosis (Bad Breath)">Halitosis (Bad Breath)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dental Professionals">Dental Professionals</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consumers">Consumers</A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> What is a RDH?</div> <div> Do you know who cleans your teeth? Ask for a RDH!</div> <bR> <div> Registered dental hygienists (RDH) are licensed oral health professionals who use preventive, educational and therapeutic methods to prevent oral disease in an effort to achieve total health. A state license and the RDH designation assure patients that the person providing preventive oral health care has completed the educational requirements at an accredited college and has successfully completed national and regional board examinations.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="17c5a5a0.jpg" border=0 width="90" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> You may expect a RDH to provide you with the following services at a preventive care visit:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Review and update your health history</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Check your blood pressure</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Perform oral cancer screening</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Evaluate your gum tissue</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Check your occlusion</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Take any necessary x-rays</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Evaluate teeth for decay to make recommendations to dentist</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Remove plaque, tartar and stains</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Apply fluoride</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Apply pit and fissure sealants</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Provide toothbrush and flossing instructions</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Education of periodontal condition</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Nutritional counseling</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Make recommendations for future hygiene appointments</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Evaluate possible cosmetic improvements</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Tobacco cessation counseling</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Present treatment plan</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Be an advocate for both patient and dentist</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Remember....the RDH is your key to obtaining quality oral health care!!!</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>