Overview
The Dental Hygienist promotes dental health by completing dental prophylaxis, providing oral cancer screening and radiographic studies; charting conditions of decay and disease; performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act.
Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited Dental Hygienist program.
- Currently licensed as a Dental Hygienist in the state of Georgia.
- At least 2 years clinical experience.
- Current CPR certification. (BCLS) by AHA
- Proper use of Dental Technology, Dental Health Maintenance, Infection Control.
- Excellent communication, organizational and customer service skills.
Responsibilities
- Prepare treatment room for patient by adhering to prescribed procedures and protocols.
- Prepare patient for dental hygiene treatment by welcoming, soothing, seating, and draping patient.
- Provide information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
- Maintain instruments for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selection instruments.
- Select materials and equipment for dental hygiene visit by evaluating patient’s oral health.
- Complete dental prophylaxis by cleaning deposits and stains from teeth and from gum margins.
- Detect disease by completing oral cancer screening; feeling and visually examining gums; using probes to locate periodontal disease and to assess levels of recession; exposing and developing radiographic studies.
- Arrest dental decay by applying fluorides and other cavity-preventing agents.
- Maintain patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations; cleaning and polishing removable appliances; placing, carving and finishing amalgam restorations; removing cement from crowns and bridges.
- Perform periodontal probing and charting, scaling and root paining, and full mouth debridements.
- Assist dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drugs and oxygen supply, and directory of emergency numbers.
- Educate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions and post operative instructions; providing reminders of time of next dental hygienist visit.
- Document dental hygiene services by recording vital signs and medical and dental histories; charting in EMR.
- Maintain strict patient confidentiality by adhering to all HIPAA rules and regulations.
- Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; completing professional CEUs; establishing personal networks.
