Dental Hygienist

Overview

The Dental Hygienist promotes dental health by completing dental prophylaxis, providing oral cancer screening and radiographic studies; charting conditions of decay and disease; performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Dental Hygienist program.
• Currently licensed as a Dental Hygienist in the state of Georgia.
• At least 2 years clinical experience.
• Current CPR certification. (BCLS) by AHA
• Proper use of Dental Technology, Dental Health Maintenance, Infection Control.
• Excellent communication, organizational and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare treatment room for patient by adhering to prescribed procedures and protocols.
• Prepare patient for dental hygiene treatment by welcoming, soothing, seating, and draping patient.
• Provide information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
• Maintain instruments for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selection instruments.
• Select materials and equipment for dental hygiene visit by evaluating patient’s oral health.
• Complete dental prophylaxis by cleaning deposits and stains from teeth and from gum margins.
• Detect disease by completing oral cancer screening; feeling and visually examining gums; using probes to locate periodontal disease and to assess levels of recession; exposing and developing radiographic studies.
• Arrest dental decay by applying fluorides and other cavity-preventing agents.
• Maintain patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations; cleaning and polishing removable appliances; placing, carving and finishing amalgam restorations; removing cement from crowns and bridges.
• Perform periodontal probing and charting, scaling and root paining, and full mouth debridements.
• Help dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drugs and oxygen supply, and directory of emergency numbers.
• Educate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions and post operative instructions; providing reminders of time of next dental hygienist visit.
• Document dental hygiene services by recording vital signs and medical and dental histories; charting in EMR.
• Maintain strict patient confidentiality by adhering to all HIPAA rules and regulations.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; completing professional CEUs; establishing personal networks.