Roles of the Hygienist and Dental Assistant in Dental Implant Maintenance

Course overview

Over the past twenty years, the use of dental implants has increased, and dental care providers are encountering the need for more dental implant maintenance procedures. The dental hygienist and dental assistant are essential in providing dental implant maintenance. Using an evidence-based approach, this Quality Resource Guide (QRG) describes the basic structure and anatomy of dental implants, discusses implant diseases and the role of maintenance in preventing these diseases, identifies three strategies for helping patients with implant home care, and outlines in-office maintenance care for patients with implants. This QRG will serve as an essential resource for new office staff members with limited experience with patients having dental implants. It will also serve as a valuable resource for the entire dental team as they strive to enhance the follow-up care for patients receiving dental implants.