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.