Dental Hygientist

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review daily schedule with the administrative assistant for hygiene patients

• Work with administrative assistant to schedule hygiene patients with efficiency

• Review patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary

• Accurately chart each patient's periodontal health

• Perform thorough and gentle prophylaxis for patients

• Perform scaling, root planning and selective polishing for patients as appropriate

• Polish restorations

• Administer local anesthetics, if allowed by dental practice act

• Place medicaments for periodontal disease treatment

• Take radiographs of patients as prescribed by dentist

• Apply cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and sealants

• Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way

• Check on patient comfort during treatment and help allay patient anxiety

• Accurately and appropriately record provided treatment

• Teach proper oral hygiene techniques to patients

• Counsel patients on oral health, including the role of nutrition

• Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist Treatment Room Management and Sterilization

• Check treatment room for cleanliness and make necessary changes

• Check and turn on treatment room equipment. Maintain an accurate count of all equipment daily in a secured environment.

• Clean treatment room at the end of the day and turn off equipment

• Maintain a supply inventory for hygiene treatment

• Review, select and submit orders for patient education materials for the practice

• Submit supply orders to supply clerk/AA once a month or as necessary

• Properly discard all disposable items from each visit in a secure fashion

• Assemble soiled instruments and place in sterilization area

• Clean treatment room surfaces with disinfectant solution

• Pre-soak soiled instruments in a disinfectant

• Sort and package instruments by tray for proper sterilization

• Load, activate and vent the sterilization unit according to manufacturer's directions

• Store instruments and trays in locked appropriate places to maintain safety and security.

• Securely store and handle patient records in compliance with office policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, such as HIPAA regulations

• Accurately record medical and dental histories

• Accurately file patient information

• Arrange patient charts

• Be an active participant in team meetings

• Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office

Qualifications: 

• Must be licensed to practice in state and meet other applicable state requirements

• Must have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary education from an accredited dental hygiene program

• Experience providing prophylaxis and taking X-rays

• Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists and coworkers
• Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff