Dental Auxiliary/Hygienist

Job Summary:

Reporting directly to the Dental Lead, the Dental Auxiliary/Hygienist is responsible for performing essential dental hygiene duties. These duties include teeth cleaning and polishing, patient education on oral hygiene practices and post-treatment care, providing preventive dental care, and assisting the dentist during examinations and treatments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs all duties outlined in the job descriptions of Dental Assistants I and II.

• Conducts visual and tactile examinations of gums to identify sores and signs of disease.

• Charts conditions of decay and disease for dentist's diagnosis and treatment planning.

• Checks lymph nodes under the patient's chin for signs of swelling or tenderness, potentially indicating oral cancer.

• Administers fluorides and other cavity-preventing agents to halt dental decay.

• Examines gums using probes to identify periodontal recessions and signs of gum disease.

• Manages the exposure and development of x-ray films.

• Delivers clinical services and provides health education to enhance and maintain the oral health of school children.

• Removes excess cement from the surfaces of teeth.

• Takes impressions for study casts.

• Places, carves, and finishes amalgam restorations.

• Performs SCRP (Scaling and Root Planing), gross scaling, periodontal maintenance, prophylaxis, and fluoride treatments.

• Conducts dental health clinics for community groups to supplement dentist services.

• Removes sutures and dressings.

• Places and removes rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.

• Performs other duties as assigned from time to time.

Education and Experience:

1. Graduate with an Associate Degree or a two-year course in Dentistry; License is required.

2. Minimum of 3 years of experience with an impressive track record as a dental hygienist, including teeth cleaning and polishing, patient education, preventive dental care, and chairside assistance during examinations and treatments.

3. Demonstrates behavioral maturity, patience, diplomacy, and tact when handling patients.

4. Excellent interpersonal relationship skills, capable of working well with co-employees, patients, and customers.

5. Strong communication skills and persuasiveness, especially in explaining instructions and procedures to patients while ensuring their comfort and confidence.

6. High sensitivity to patient needs and anxieties, with the ability to motivate patients to undergo treatments and procedures.

7. Exceptional manual dexterity skills.

8. Demonstrates strong ethics and maintains a high level of personal and professional integrity.

9. Knowledgeable about federal and state laws and healthcare management requirements.

10. Proficient in using MS Office programs and computer-literate.

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