Dental Hygienist

Dentist Hygienist

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

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

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.

Associates or Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.