Dental Hygienist (8875)

JOB SUMMARY

The dental hygienist, assuming professional responsibility, delivers care focusing on the prevention of dental problems and the maintenance of current dental health. Promoting dental health, the dental hygienist teaches clients methods of self-care and prevention. The dental hygienist gives fluoride treatments, applies sealant, and gives oral hygiene education, under the supervision of the dentist, aiding patients in achieving and maintaining good dental health. The hygienist exams the mouth as well as cleaning, scaling, polishing the teeth. The hygienist takes x-rays of the teeth when needed.

The dental hygienist is a professional hygienist who is currently licensed to practice in the State of Vermont and meets the requirements governing the qualifications of dental hygienists.

Duties and responsibilities are congruent with and reflect the OSHA standards and regulations for dental hygienists.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintains and cleans equipment in the dental hygiene room and the x-ray developing equipment.
• Maintains the recall system which consists of a card mailed to each patient telling them the date and time of their next cleaning appointment or reminds them to call to make an appointment for same.
• Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
• Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
• Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
• Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
• Apply fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
• Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
• Expose and develop x-ray film.
• Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health
• Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
• Make impressions for study casts.
• Place, carve, and finish amalgam restorations.
• Administer local anesthetic agents.
• Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
• Remove sutures and dressings.
• Place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
• Teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene.
• Work chair-side with the dentist during treatment.
• Trains, mentors and supervises students and clinical support staff as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned.