Download Dental Hygienist Essential Responsibilities

Dental Hygienist Essential Responsibilities:
Duties include, but not limited to; cleaning, scaling, root planning, curettage, laser treatment and polishing
the teeth. The EPDH hygienist Takes x-rays and impressions as needed; Records perio charting, oral
conditions, treatment recommended and performed; Diagnose and treat periodontal disease; diagnose and
apply dental sealants; Assess need for and apply desensitizing treatment; Maintain awareness of comfort
and safety needs of patients; Assist with sterilization duties for operatories and instruments; Assist in
maintaining equipment and inventory; Adhere to all required OSHA and health regulations. With
Collaborative Agreement: Administration of local anesthetic Prescribe/Dispense Fluoride, Analgesics and
Antibiotic premedication
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Seat patients in designated treatment rooms in a timely manner
 Take, process and mount x-rays
 Review medical history, progress from previous visit, and scheduled treatment with patients
 Visual inspection of oral cavity including charting of oral lesions, existing restorations, missing
teeth and periodontal status including periodontal charting
 Oral Cancer Exam
 Evaluate gingival health and periodontal disease, classify periodontal status and recommend
treatment plan
 Perform preventative/ therapeutic treatment as needed, including scaling, polishing, root planning
and curettage
 Use diode laser for soft tissue treatment
 Administer local anesthetic
 Apply fluoride and sealants
 Polish and contour restorations
 Recommend perio consultations (periodontal referral)
 Polish appliances, including partial and full dentures
 Record treatment rendered in the patient’s chart and charge out all procedures
 Educate patient about home care, oral health and preventative or therapeutic treatment plan
 Schedule patient for next procedures
 Escort/Direct patient to the business area for financial follow-up
 Apply non-aerosol/non-caustic topical agents/anesthetics
 Take impressions for diagnostic and opposing models, cast restorations, space maintainers,
orthodontic appliances and guards
 Remove sutures, ligature ties and arch wires
 Place an remove rubber dams
 Place, wedge and remove matrices
 Obtain endodontic cultures
 Test pulp vitality
 Place bases and liners on dentin
 Remove excess cement from sub-gingival surfaces of teeth
 Pour and trim study models
 Size stainless steel crowns, temporary crowns
 Temporary cementation and removal of temporary crowns
 Place and remove periodontal dressings, temporary sedative dressings
 Placement and litigation of arch wires
Under Supervision of Licensed Dentist: (Dentist on Premises)
 Cord retraction for impression procedures
 Temporary stabilization
 Debride Periodontal surgery site
 Place intra-oral sutures
 Administration of Nitrous oxide
Daily Maintenance:
 Turn on all lights, units, x-ray, sterilizing equipment and Vacuum/Suction Pumps each morning
 Prepare treatment rooms in advance for each patient
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Decontaminate treatment rooms and sterilize all instruments after each patient
Change all chemical solutions, i.e. disinfectants soaks and sprays, sterilents, ultrasonic, and presoak
daily or weekly as prescribed by OSHA
Maintain cleanliness of treatment rooms and sterilization/lab area
Clean and flush vacuum traps
Clean and lubricate handpieces
Sharpen instruments as needed
Schedule patient for recall and restorative appointments; monitor recall list
Restock all treatment rooms and other clinical support areas
Clean dirty instruments and handle hazardous chemicals in a safe manner
PATIENT EDUCATION:
 Explain disease process and the role of bacteria in caries and periodontal health
 Provide appropriate home care instruction an educational literature
 Recommend/dispense intra-oral aids
 Explain prevention to patients and parents of small children
 Reflect and reinforce the dentist/clinic philosophy on oral health and prevention