Dental Hygienist

Job Duties The Dental Hygienist is a member of the dental team, working under a dentist's supervision, whose primary responsibilities are to provide preventive periodontal treatment, provide patient education, and record/review patient medical histories.Completes patient screening procedures; such as assessment of oral health conditions, review of the health history, oral cancer screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting and taking blood pressure and pulse. May consult dentist as needed. Takes and develops dental radiographs (x-rays) Removes calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth; may involve the use of rotary instruments and ultra-sonic devices. Proficiently uses topical and local anesthetic, as needed. Applies preventive materials to the teeth such as sealants and fluorides. Teaches patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health, such as tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling Creates impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs) Maintains instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selecting instruments, as needed. Practices universal precautions and effectively follows all sterilization and infection control procedures. The tasks outlined above are intended to provide a general overview of the role and are not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or job functions. Additional tasks may be assigned as needed to support the business, and responsibilities may evolve to meet the changing needs of the organization.