A Dental Hygienist is a professional who plays a crucial role in oral healthcare. They work closely with dentists to provide preventive and therapeutic dental care to patients. Dental hygienists are responsible for conducting dental examinations, cleaning teeth, and educating patients on proper oral hygiene practices. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Dental Hygienists.

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Main Responsibilities of a Dental Hygienist

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Dental Hygienist:

Adhere to

Adhere to ethical and professional standards of practice.

Administer

Administer local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation when necessary.

Aid

Aid the dentist with procedures and emergencies as needed.

Apply

• Apply dental sealants and fluoride treatments to protect teeth.

• Apply desensitizing agents to alleviate tooth sensitivity.

• Apply sealants and fluorides.

Arrest

Arrest dental decay by applying fluorides and other cavity-preventingagents.

Assess

Assess the need for orthodontic referrals and communicate with orthodontists.

Assist with

• Assist dentists during dental procedures, such as fillings and extractions.

• Assist dentists with selecting appropriate treatments for various diseases.

• Assist other team members, including front office responsibilities and general office duties.

• Assist the dentist through 4-handed dentistry.

Assure

Assure integration of patient education into all treatment phases.

Call

Call patients for aftercare and answer questions.

Certified

• Certified with the CDHO or willing to certify with the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario.

• Certified with the SDHA or willing to certify with the Saskatchewan Dental Hygiene Association.

Clean

• Clean and help protect patients' teeth (e.g. remove plaque or apply fluoride).

• Clean and prepare operatory per OSHA guidelines prior to patient appointment.

• Clean and stimulate the gums to prevent gum disease.

• Clean dental instruments to ensure everything is sterilized properly.

• Clean laundered gowns, face shield and level 3 masks available.

• Clean patient's teeth to remove plague, polish, floss and brush.

• Clean and sterilize instruments.

Co-create

Co-create a hygiene care plan using agreed upon interventions.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with dental assistants to ensure a smooth workflow.

• Collaborate with dentists to develop treatment plans for patients.

Collect

• Collect medical and dental histories from patients.

• Collect patient's dental and relevant medical history, to reference during examinations.

Complete

• Complete dental prophylaxis by cleaning deposits of stains from teeth and beneath gum margins.

• Complete NEA's for hygiene procedures daily for services performed.

• Complete periodontal charting per guidelines.

• Complete Treatment Plan as prescribed by the dentist.

Conduct

• Conduct initial dental assessments and consult with dentists on patient care.

• Conduct initial mouth screenings and check oral health history.

• Conduct nutritional counseling to promote good oral health.

• Conduct oral cancer screenings and refer patients for further evaluation if needed.

• Conduct thorough oral examinations to identify signs of oral diseases.

• Conduct various aspects of program administration as required.

Conserve

Conserve dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.

Consult

Consult with appropriate providers as necessary.

Contribute to

Contribute to team effort by accomplishing and supporting as assigned.

Create

• Create and send thank you notes to all new patients.

• Create dental impressions of patients teeth so veneers, mouthguards, etc. can be made correctly.

• Create molds of patients' teeth in preparation for dentures, bridges and other prostheses.

Customize

• Customize care to meet patient's concern before or after performing the CBCT.

• Customize care to meet patient's oral health.

Deliver

Deliver direct patient care using established dental hygienist procedures.

Develop

Develop and maintain course curriculum.

Document

• Document dental hygiene services by recording vital signs, medical dental histories.

• Document encounters in an accurate and timely manner.

• Document patient dental history and chief complaint.

• Document patient history and ensures patient follow-ups when required.

Educate

• Educate patients and families on appropriate preventative oral hygiene strategies.

• Educate patients of all ages on oral hygiene and good brushing techniques.

• Educate patients on good oral hygiene habits and treatment progress.

• Educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques and provide individualized oral care instructions.

• Educate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions.

Elevate

Elevate patient hygiene awareness and promote patient education.

Engage

Engage patients to build trust and rapport throughout the dental experience.

Enjoy

Enjoy the satisfaction of team growth and being part of an expansion.

Ensure

• Ensure operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements.

• Ensure patients feel as comfortable as possible before their examination.

• Ensure that all patients receive optimal tailored treatment plans based on clinical findings.

• Ensure that operatories are well supplied with necessary supplies.

Establish

• Establish strong patient relationships while maintaining ethical professional behavior.

• Establish strong patient relationships while maintaining ethical professional behaviour.

Evaluate

Evaluate patients' dental and medical histories to identify potential risk factors.

Explain

Explain treatment alternatives to patients.

Give

• Give instructions to patients after operations or other dental procedures.

• Give sound advice to patients on adjunctive treatments.

Handle

• Handle dental emergencies and provide first aid when necessary.

• Handle sharpening, sterilization, and maintenance of all instruments and equipment.

Help

• Help to acquaint patients with preventive care-oriented practice philosophy.

• Help to maintain and manage patient recall system.

• Help to reconfirm and appoint patients.

• Help your colleagues "win” each and every day.

Hygiene

• Hygiene appointments extended to 70 minutes for additional turnover time.

• Hygiene appointments have been extended to 70 minutes to allow for additional turnover time.

Identify

• Identify and educate patients on dental disease and treatment recommendations.

• Identify conditions like gingivitis, caries or periodontitis.

Instruct

• Instruct patients of all ages on proper dental hygiene and care.

• Instruct patients regarding oral hygiene.

Keep

• Keep detailed records of each patients visit and update their health history.

• Keep the dental room clean and well-stocked.

Lead

Lead a small team of support staff.

Maintain

• Maintain accurate and timely notes in patient's chart.

• Maintain accurate patient records and assist with payment procedures.

• Maintain accurate patient records and update medical histories.

• Maintain a clean and organized dental operatory.

• Maintain a clean and sterile operatory in accordance with IPAC regulations.

• Maintain annual OSHA, HIPAA, and Infection Control training as required by law.

• Maintain documentation and charts on each patient.

• Maintain instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sterilizing instruments.

• Maintain organization and department defined standard of performance to meet metrics.

• Maintain patient appearance as well as ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations.

• Maintain patient confidence and protect operations by keeping information confidential.

• Maintain patient confidentiality.

• Maintain patient private information, documents, charts and follow OSHA and HIPPA guidelines.

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops.

• Maintain proper usage and operations of equipment.

• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.

• Maintain time flexibility for all patients.

Manage

Manage soft tissue and re-care patients.

Monitor

Monitor and manage infection control protocols within the dental office.

Offer

Offer fluoride treatment to all patients.

Order

Order and maintain all hygiene supplies and deliverable products for the office.

Participate

Participate as an integral element of a dynamic team.

Partner

Partner with the team to create n exceptional experience for patient.

Perform

• Perform all aspects of preventative hygiene services.

• Perform all lab duties / requirements as instructed by the Orthodontist or leadership team.

• Perform dental cleanings to remove plaque and calculus from patients' teeth.

• Perform periodontal charting and assess the health of patients' gums.

• Perform root planing and scaling to treat periodontal disease.

• Perform routine treatment procedures, such as cleaning and polishing.

• Perform teeth whitening procedures to enhance patients' smiles.

Place

Place locally applied antimicrobials when prescribed by the doctor.

Prepare

• Prepare and maintain all dental instruments, supplies and equipment.

• Prepare customers for treatments or checkups ensuring their comfort.

• Prepare for the morning huddle, including chart audits, and eligibility of coverage.

• Prepare patient for dental hygiene treatment by welcoming, soothing, seating, draping patient.

• Prepare patients for the Orthodontist.

• Prepare treatment room for patient by adhering to prescribed procedures protocols.

Present

Present hygiene treatment plans to the patient.

Prioritize

Prioritize patient care and well-being above all else.

Produce

Produce work in high quantity and quality.

Protect

• Protect patients as well as employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.

• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.

Provide

• Provide a cover letter letting us know what makes you a good candidate for this position.

• Provide all care in conjunction with accepted professional dental practices and standards.

• Provide chair-side assistance during dental procedures.

• Provide dental hygiene services as required.

• Provide digital x-rays and chairside assistance when available, as needed.

• Provide information to patients and colleagues by answering questions andrequests.

• Provide information to patients & employees by answering questions, requests.

• Provide instructional support to Dental Assisting Program when required.

• Provide oral health counseling to patients, including tobacco cessation assistance.

• Provide oral hygiene and post-operative care instructions.

• Provide routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions or varnish.

• Provide superior patient care and customer service by making the patient the #1 priority.

• Provide support and care for patients with special needs.

Receive

Receive mentoring and support from doctor and team.

Recommend

Recommend next appointment date.

Record

• Record and reports pertinent observations.

• Record specific treatment performed on patient chart, as well as other patient information as needed.

Refer

Refer patients to appropriate dentist for consultation or treatment as necessary.

Remove

Remove sutures and dress surgical sites after dental surgeries.

Respond to

Respond to quality issues as recommended by the Quality Assurance Plan.

Review

• Review and explains treatment plan and associates fees with patient.

• Review and revise patient histories and record patient's vital signs.

• Review patient medical history and dental records, charts and other pertinent information.

Schedule

Schedule appointments and manage patient flow within the dental practice.

Screen

Screen and assess oral health conditions for all new patients and recall patients.

Select

• Select and set up instruments, equipment and material needed.

• Select materials equipment for dental hygiene visit by evaluating patients oral health.

Show

Show appropriate brushing and flossing techniques.

Stay updated on

• Stay thirsty and always seek to learn and improve upon patient service and clinical practice.

• Stay updated on the latest advancements in dental hygiene techniques and technology.

Sterilize

• Sterilize and disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays and prepare materials.

• Sterilize dental instruments and tool.

• Sterilize dental instruments and tools.

• Sterilize dental instruments properly.

• Sterilize instruments according to regulations.

Supervise

• Supervise and evaluate students in clinical settings.

• Supervise dental assistants in their health care functions.

Take

• Take alginate impressions and fabricate whitening trays if necessary.

• Take and develop dental x-rays for diagnostic purposes.

• Take bitewings, full mouth and panoramic radiographs.

• Take, develop and mount X-rays.

• Take impressions for the fabrication of dental appliances like dentures and crowns.

• Take matters in your own hands and become a Riccobene team member.

• Take necessary dental radiographs and intraoral pictures.

• Take patient vital signs.

• Take quality digital radiographs.

• Take radiographs required for diagnosis of treatment needs by the dentist.

• Take X-rays of patients' teeth and develop them for dentist's use.

• Take X-rays or dental impressions.

Teach

Teach patients how to prevent tooth decay and gum disease through proper diet and oral home care.

Update

Update and document charts on each patient.

Use

• Use all patient education materials (ex. iPad) on a consistent basis to ensure case acceptance.

• Use dental instruments to clean and polish patients' teeth.

Verify

Verify patient health history and document in patient's chart.

Work with

• Work alongside four specialty-trained pediatric dentists and an excellent team of dental assistants.

• Work to develop and implement individualized dental care plans for patients.

• Work with dentists to decide the best form of treatment for a variety of dental disease.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Dental Hygienist:

1. Dental radiography techniques and interpretation

2. Knowledge of dental anatomy and oral pathology

3. Proficiency in using dental instruments and equipment

4. Understanding of periodontal disease and its treatment

5. Expertise in administering local anesthesia and nitrous oxide sedation

6. Familiarity with dental software and patient management systems

7. Ability to perform dental charting and maintain accurate records

8. Experience in dental impressions and appliance fabrication

9. Proficient in infection control and sterilization procedures

10. Knowledge of dental materials and their applications

11. Understanding of dental emergencies and first aid procedures

12. Expertise in oral cancer screening and detection

13. Ability to perform teeth whitening and desensitizing procedures

14. Knowledge of dental office management and appointment scheduling

15. Understanding of dental insurance policies and claim processing

16. Expertise in handling dental radiography equipment and radiation safety protocols

17. Proficiency in performing root planing and scaling techniques

18. Understanding of dental ethics and professional standards

19. Knowledge of orthodontic principles and referral protocols

20. Familiarity with dental laboratory procedures and communication.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Dental Hygienist:

1. Excellent communication skills to effectively interact with patients of all ages and backgrounds.

2. Empathy and compassion to provide emotional support and create a comfortable environment for patients.

3. Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with dentists, dental assistants, and other healthcare professionals.

4. Attention to detail to ensure accurate documentation and precision in dental procedures.

5. Patience and calmness to handle anxious or fearful patients and manage challenging situations.

6. Time management skills to efficiently schedule appointments and provide timely care to patients.

7. Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to assess patients' oral health and develop appropriate treatment plans.

8. Adaptability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced dental practice environment.

9. Professionalism and integrity to maintain patient confidentiality and uphold ethical standards.

10. Continuous learning mindset to stay updated on advancements in dental hygiene practices and techniques.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dental hygienists have a wide range of responsibilities that encompass preventive care, patient education, and assistance during dental procedures. They possess a combination of technical skills, including dental hygiene procedures and radiography techniques, as well as essential soft skills like communication and empathy. By mastering these skills, dental hygienists can provide high-quality oral healthcare and contribute to the overall well-being of their patients.