Dental Hygienist

Dentist Hygienist

I. Position Summary:

Responsible for providing high quality hygiene treatment and care to patients.

II. Essential Functions/Responsibilities:

• Check on daily schedule with the receptionist for hygiene patients 

· Carefully review patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary 

· Accurately chart each patient’s periodontal health 

· Perform thorough and gentle prophylaxis to patients 

· Perform scaling, root planing, and selective polishing for selective patients 

· Administer local anesthetics, if permitted by state regulations 

· Place medicaments subgingivally (under the gum line) for periodontal disease treatment, if permitted by state regulations 

· Provide X-rays for patients as prescribed by dentist 

· Apply cavity-preventative agents such as fluorides and sealants 

· Perform head and neck examinations 

· Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way 

· Check on patient comfort during treatment; help allay patient anxiety 

· Take accurate notes on the provided treatment 

· Teach proper oral hygiene techniques to patients 

· Counsel patients on proper nutrition, oral health, and the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco 

· Perform other tasks assigned 

· Check and maintain hygiene area for cleanliness 

· Check and turn on hygiene room equipment 

· Monitor hygiene supply inventory and submit supply orders to Clinical Coordinator 

· Assemble soiled instruments, place in sterilization area, and sort / package instruments by tray for proper sterilization 

· Clean Hygiene bay surfaces with disinfectant solution according to OSHA regulations 

· Load, activate, and vent the sterilization unit according to manufacturer’s directions and OSHA regulations 

· Store sterilized instruments and trays in appropriate places 

· See that records are stored securely and handled in compliance with legal requirements, including the HIPAA privacy and security regulations if applicable 

· Accurately combine chart and notes with larger patient information 

· Complete X-Ray Log as appropriate 

· Provide referral to and from other doctors to guardian as instructed by Dentist 

III. Skills/Certifications: 

· Dental hygienists must be licensed and in good standing with the State of South Carolina. 

· Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate. 

IV. Education Required:

· Associates or Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.