Registered Dental Hygienist

Duties

• Examine patient's oral cavity to include mouth, throat, and pharynx, and record conditions of teeth and surrounding tissues.
• Refer patients to dentist who have abnormalities to include cavities, defective fillings, suspicious growths, or periodontal disease.
• Performs advanced prophylactic and preventive dentistry procedures in the treatment of patients with related medical and dental problems.
• Performs various advanced dental prophylaxis and provides therapeutic care in cases of acute gingivitis and periodontal disease around natural teeth, dental implants, and the periodontium using a variety of hand scale instruments and ultrasound equipment.
• Administers local anesthesia by infiltration when authorized and credentialed with proper licensing under the direct supervision of a Dental Officer.
• Applies prescribed medications to tissue on ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients, using knowledge of dental oral anatomy, physiology and histology.
• Takes intra-oral impressions to prepare study models.
• Removes overhanging margins on fillings, reduces sharp edges of fractured teeth, polishes and finishes amalgam restoration.
• Removes sutures, changes dressings, and applies topical anesthetics.
• Apply desensitizing and other topical agents to treat abnormalities to include caries prevention, gingivitis and oral ulceration.
• Instruct patients, individually and in groups, in proper oral hygiene care using materials to include teeth models, displays, slides, toothbrushes, dental floss, disclosing tablets and mirrors.
• Demonstrate proper techniques of brushing, flossing, and use of necessary periodontal aids.
• Explain the common causes of tooth decay and its relationship to general diet.
• Take impressions and construct sports/safety mouth guards and soft night guards for vital bleaching.
• Polish restorations and apply pit and fissure sealants.
• Chair side dental assisting when directed by the Officer-In-Charge of the dental clinic.
• Record patients treated.
• Check and maintain instruments to insure working condition.
• Clean, sharpen, and sterilize instruments.

Qualifications

• Education: Associates Degree or Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene
• Accreditation: Successful completion of a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA)
• Certifications: Successfully Pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE).
• Radiology Cardiac Certifications: Must have the following hands-on certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Experience: Shall have two years of experience