Which of the following is NOT a component of the dental hygiene process of care?

The dental hygiene process of care consists of several essential components that guide the delivery of patient care. These components typically include assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Counseling, while a vital skill and aspect of patient interaction, is not officially recognized as a standalone step within the dental hygiene process of care. Instead, counseling methods can be integrated into other components, especially during the assessment and implementation stages, where dental hygienists educate and motivate patients about oral hygiene practices and the overall significance of oral health.

The components of assessment, planning, and implementation are foundational in structuring patient care effectively. Assessment involves gathering comprehensive information about the patient’s oral health status, planning involves setting treatment goals and strategies based on the assessment, and implementation is the execution of the planned intervention. While counseling plays a role in enhancing patient understanding and compliance, it does not represent a separate component of the formal process of care in dental hygiene practice.