Dentist HygienistI. 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.
