Final answer:
The roles for a dental hygiene change agent include clinician, educator, researcher, administrator/manager, advocate, and public health promoter, all aimed at advancing the dental hygiene field and improving patient care.
Step-by-step explanation:
Roles of the Dental Hygiene Change Agent
The roles identified for the dental hygiene change agent are multifaceted and essential for the advancement and betterment of dental hygiene practice and patient care. These roles often include that of a clinician, educator, researcher, administrator/manager, advocate, and public health promoter.
As a clinician, the dental hygiene change agent works directly with patients to provide preventative and therapeutic services. As an educator, the change agent educates patients, communities, and even peers on oral health and hygiene practices.
In the researcher role, the dental hygiene change agent contributes to the body of knowledge on oral health through scientific inquiry. As an administrator or manager, the change agent might oversee dental hygiene programs or practices.
Advocacy is another critical role where the dental hygiene change agent works to improve access to dental care and influence health policy. Lastly, in public health promotion, the change agent designs and implements community-based programs to enhance oral health awareness and outcomes.