Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist

Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care.

Examine radiographs for signs of calculus, oral pathology, and dental diseases.

Refer patients to the Dentist when required.

Recognize contraindications to prophylaxis.

Remove plaque, calculus, and stain.

Polish teeth.

Apply pit and fissure sealants, when needed.

Perform postoperative treatments such as pack and suture removal.

Counsel patients on dental disease prevention and control, proper brushing and flossing techniques, and use of dental health and dietary aids.

Record treatment and check for accuracy.

Sign dental record entries.

Ensure that patients are able to demonstrate increased knowledge and skill in oral hygiene procedures.

Call and schedule periodontal maintenance on high-risk patients due for maintenance.

High-risk patients include those with diabetes, controlled hypertension, and severe periodontal disease.

Maintain a full schedule; actively seek out additional patient or administrative duties.

Assist the dental team in planning and developing a budget, training plans, and obtaining training materials.

Render treatment, sterilize and prepare instruments and supplies according to clinic policy and OSHA standards.

Assist with the periodontal maintenance recall system.

Provide home care instructions.

Remove and replace sharps containers when full.

Order supplies with consent from the Dentist.

Coordinate clinical assignments with the Dentist to ensure total coverage of patients requiring periodontal hygiene care.

Perform other duties and projects as required by management.

Ability to adapt quickly to new procedures, policies, and ideas and is easily instructed.

Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

Good communication with supervisor, sensitive, pleasant, professional, and courteous with patients and dental staff.

Knowledge of dental hygiene sciences such as oral anatomy, histology, nutrition pharmacology, the principles and techniques of dental hygiene, and dental instruments and materials to perform specialized prophylactic and preventive dental hygiene procedures including scaling, root planning, and subgingival curettage.

Knowledge of oral pathology and periodontology sufficient to identify a variety of abnormal conditions such as acute gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal pockets and provide the necessary prophylactic and therapeutic dental hygiene treatment.

Knowledge of systemic diseases such as diabetes sufficient to recognize their manifestations, understand the disease processes, determine proper course of dental hygiene treatment and to provide the specialized oral care and follow-up instructions.

Skill and dexterity in manipulating a variety of dental instruments while performing specialized prophylactic and therapeutic dental hygiene procedures such as scaling, deep root planning, and subgingival curettage.

Knowledge of dental radiology including radiographic principles, digital x-rays, intraoral and extraoral techniques, processing, exposure factors and radiation safety, sufficient to take, process, and mount a variety of X-rays, and use them as aids in performing dental hygiene treatment and educating patients.

Ability to use computers to chart and document treatment.

CPR certification.

Must be currently registered as a Dental Hygienist in the State of Oklahoma.

The ability to stand and walk around for prolonged periods of time with arms in a slightly raised or extended position.

Some bending, stretching, kneeling, and lifting are required.

Day to day job duties require repetitive motion.

Must meet all health care immunization requirements.

General clinical environment with frequent exposure to chemicals, bloodborne pathogens and patient body fluids.