Dental Hygienist Skills

Sample Skills/Skill Headings

Computer Skills

MS Office, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, electronic mail, Internet, Intranet

Sample Skill Statements

• Performing oral health care assessments that include reviewing patients' health history, dental charting, oral cancer screening, and taking and recording blood
• pressure
• Examining gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease
• Taking blood pressure, respiration and pulse
• Exposing, processing, and interpreting dental x-rays
• Exposing and developing dental x-rays manually and with automatic processor
• Interpreting X-rays to determine areas of calculus deposits and periodontal involvement, the relationship of the teeth, etc.
• Removing stains, plaque, and calculus from above and below the gumline
• Scaling and root planning teeth by ultrasonic and by hand
• Using hand and rotary instruments, lasers, and ultrasonics to clean teeth
• Applying cavity-preventative agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants to teeth
• Administering and dispensing antimicrobial solutions and resorbable antimicrobial agents
• Using study cast models to produce bleaching trays and mouthguards
• Administering local anesthesia with syringe and needle; administering nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia
• Placing and removing rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations
• Removing sutures and dressings
• Placing, carving and finishing amalgam restorations
• Using a high-speed handpiece to polish amalgams
• Applying temporary soft relines to full dentures
• Cleaning and polishing removable dental appliances
• Making impressions for study casts
• Performing dressing removal, suture removal, irrigation, and dressing application during periodontal surgery
• Applying prescribed medicines to gums in cases of excess bleeding
• Following protocol for sterilization of instruments
• Cleaning, sharpening, and sterilizing instruments
• Updating medical history for recall and new clients
• Setting up and maintaining a patient recall system to insure continuous, close follow-up treatment for each patient
• Charting conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist
• Screening patients at each appointment to detect pathologic lesions, particularly cancerous
• Thoroughly reviewing patients' medical history and identifying conditions that may interfere with or contraindicate treatment
• Recording patients' history to determine if systemic conditions are present which may alter standard treatment
• Planning dental hygiene treatment and series of appointments in accordance with existing conditions
• Referring patients to dentist who have abnormalities such as cavities, defective fillings, suspicious growths, or periodontal disease
• Performing deep scaling, root planing and subgingival curettage under direction and supervision of dentitst
• Identifying suspected conditions that require additional testing and referring for medical evaluation
• Recording the number of patients treated and type of treatment administered
• Recording dental charting, including probings for periodontal condition
• Performing daily input into computer of client data regarding fees, appointments, pre-treatment plans, treatment notes, and insurance forms
• Coordinating and managing al billing procedures as they relate to patient flow and reimbursement
• Responsible for establishing a recall system to improve and increase patient contact, resulting in a 30% increase in patient return for preventative care
• Preparing patients for exams by reviewing health histories and other parts of records, examining radiographs on viewbox, and explaining procedures to be performed
• Performing diagnostic work-up, including patients' personal, medical and dental history; vital signs; extraoral and intraoral exams; radiographic surveys; study casts,
• gingival and periodontal exams and tooth exam
• Creating and using models of teeth to explain oral hygiene instructions
• Supplying oral hygiene tools according to patients' dexterity and motivational needs
• Teaching patients proper oral hygiene techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums
• Counseling patients about plaque control and developing individualized at-home oral hygiene programs
• Educating patients on the importance of good nutrition for maintaining optimal oral health
• Providing instructions using demonstrations and audio-visual aids in the use and care of dental prosthesis, nutritional guidance, and need for daily hygiene care
• Providing patients information on a smoking cessation program in the community
• Selecting and arranging X-rays as teaching devices for viewing by patients
• Delivering classroom presentations during Dental Health Month
• Instructing nurses and nursing assistants in oral health care techniques for bedridden, handicapped, disabled, and chronically ill patients
• Bilingual (Multilingual) with proficiency in Spanish, English, Russian, Japanese, ASL
• Certifications/Associations
• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH); X-ray certificate; Expanded Functions Certificates (Pit and Fissure Sealants, Temporary Soft Denture Relines, etc.); Local
• Anesthesia permit; Nitrous Oxide Class 1 permit; Limited Access Permit; First Aid and CPR certificate
• Memberships in American Dental Hygienists' Association, Oregon Dental Hygienists' Association, Student American Dental Hygienists' Association, American Dental
• Association, American Association of Public Health Dentistry, Hispanic Dental Association, Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities
• Instruments/Equipment
• Various hand instruments: examination instruments (mouth mirrors, explorers, cotton pliers, periodontal probes), scalers, excavators, curets, PFIs
• Handpieces: low-speed, high-speed, ultrasonic, laser, air abrasion, laboratory
• Rotary instruments: burs, mandrels, mounted stones and discs
• Sterilizing equipment: ultrasonic cleaner, autoclave, dry heat sterilizer, chemical disinfectants and sterilizers
• Operatory & Lab equipment: saliva ejector, HVE, hydrocolloid conditioner, model trimmer, vacuum former, sandblaster, articulator, dental lathes, wax heater
• Radiograph equipment: X-ray machines, processing tank, automatic film processor
• Radiographic, Diagnostic & Auxiliary units: filmless, digitalized radiographic unit, intraoral cameras and perio-pocket detectors, endodontic units, laser dental surgery,
• electronic target anesthesia, computer interaction
• Other: interproximal brushes, bridge threaders, bristle brushes, rubber cups, polishing strips, prophylactic paste, disclosing agents, teeth models, displays, slides,
• toothbrushes, dental floss, disclosing tablets, mirrors, and phase microscope, blood pressure equipment, emergency kit equipment