Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases, both to protect teeth and gums and also to protect patients' total health.

Essential Functions:

• Greets and seats patients, making them as comfortable as possible
• Checks every patient's medical history for alerts, allergies and medications
• Verifies procedure to be performed with patient; investigates further if a toothache is the chief complaint
• Prepares proper procedural tray; associated instruments and materials
• Prepares and maintains dental instruments (sterilize), rooms (sterilize), supplies and equipment
• Manages patients during dental procedures keeping them comfortable
• Performs oral health care assessments that include reviewing patients' health history, dental charting and oral cancer screening
• Take dental x-rays and develop them
• Removes plaque, stain and calculus deposits from above and below the gumline using dental instruments
• Applies cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and sealants to the teeth
• Teaches patients proper oral hygiene techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums
• Counsels patients on plaque control and developing individualized at home oral hygiene programs
• Counsels patients on the importance of good nutrition for maintaining optimal oral health
• Feels and visually examines gums for sores and signs of disease
• Charts conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by the dentist
• Feels lymph nodes under the patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer
• Examines gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease and educates patient if applicable
• Removes excess cement from the coronal surfaces of teeth
• Enters complete and accurate chart notes documenting each patient's visit
• Prints out and delivers accurate route slips to front desk for patient check-out
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills; active listening as well as written and oral comprehension/communication skills; Gives full attention to what individuals are saying, understands the point being made, asks appropriate questions to gain better knowledge of situation(s) and repeats information to ensure understanding
• Excellent customer service skills; actively seeks ways to assist internal and external customers within the scope of assigned duties
• Good computer skills; Outlook, Windows, Microsoft Office applications; Dentrix exposure preferred
• Good time management skills; self evaluates the use of time and understands how others may be affected
• Cultural diversity awareness and skills; respects all people regardless of race, nationality or social standing
• Ability to work independently (self motivating) and as a team member
• Ability to develop a collaborative therapeutic alliance with individuals and make accurate professional judgments
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, providers, managers, patients and vendors
• Problem sensitivity skills; empathetic/understanding
• Deductive reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Organized and detail oriented
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) language skills helpful

Education, Experience and Licensure:

• Must have a valid and current Dental Hygienist License
• Must have a current CPR card
• Minimum of 1-2 years experience as a Hygienist preferred