Job Description: Dental Hygienist
We are hiring a dental hygienist for our growing practice. You will assist the dentist with various procedures and in the operation of x-ray machines. As a dental hygienist, you should be reliable and able to build trust with patients of all ages. You should have deep knowledge of relevant health and safety rules and a good eye for oral diseases and anomalies. If you also have a steady hand and a great bedside manner, we’d like to meet you.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
- Use dental instruments to clean accretions, calcareous deposits, and stains from teeth and beneath the margins of gums.
- Look for indications of oral cancer by feeling lymph nodes under patient chins for signs of tenderness or swelling.
- Note and review patient medical history.
- Use probes to examine and locate periodontal recessed gums and other signs of gum disease.
- Record dental decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentists.
- Maintain dental equipment and x-ray machine.
- Feel and visually examine gums for signs of disease, sores, and other dental health issues.
- Sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
- Promote preventative dental care to improve patient oral health care.
- Apply fluorides and other dental decay prevention agents.
- Work with dentists and dental assistants.
- Maintain a dental hygiene program for patients.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Associate’s degree from an accredited hygiene program.
- State hygiene license.
- Current CPR certificate.
- Current on Hepatitis B vaccination.
- Able to use x-ray equipment.
- Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Comfortable using computers for a variety of tasks.
- Knowledgeable about oral hygiene and dental health.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee will encounter while performing this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to blood-borne pathogens, airborne fomites, infections, and other contagious diseases; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and vibration. In addition, the employee is frequently exposed to the risk of radiation.
Other Benefits
- Paid vacation
- Paid holidays – regardless of what day it falls on
- Office Bonus System
- 401K
The Top 10 Questions Dental Hygienist should ask their Future Employer
Pay structures are complicated, what is my true pay going to be (Hourly or commission-based pay)?
For me to grow, I know I need support. How are you going to support my own growth (mentorship, training portals)?
For me to grow, I know I need support. How are you going to support my teammates that ultimately support me (Doctors, Dental Assistants, Business Assistants)?
I love my work, but I don't want my work to be my life. Do you make me give up my weekends? Do you offer any flexibility, even for weekdays?
Teamwork is great. Give me an example of how that directly relates to my day to day duties (Does anyone help me with recall, sterilization, turning over rooms, probing depth recording)?
Do you know what Shift Work Disorder is and what are you doing to help prevent that in your organization? An example is a 7am start one day, and a 7pm end the next day.
Anxiety and burnout are prevalent in our profession. How do your systems and processes help fight against this problem?
Dental technology leads to a better patient experience and quality of care. What are all of the changes you made to your office and what do you plan to implement in the future (intra-oral cameras, dry shields, cavitrons, portable x-ray equipment, multiple digital sensors)?
I think that team-based offices are the best. Do you have team bonuses if the performance is there?
Reputation is huge. What do your patients have to say about your team and office (Google reviews)?