Dental Hygienist

Base pay range

$52.00/hr - $62.00/hr

• Review daily schedule with the administrative assistant for hygiene patients.
• Work with administrative assistant to schedule hygiene patients with efficiency.
• Review patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary.
• Accurately chart each patient’s periodontal health.
• Perform thorough and gentle prophylaxis for patients.
• Perform scaling, root planing and selective polishing for patients as appropriate.
• Polish restorations.
• Administer local anesthetics, if allowed by dental practice act.
• Place medicaments subgingivally for periodontal disease treatment.
• Take radiographs of patients as prescribed by dentist.
• Apply cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and sealants.
• Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way.
• Check on patient comfort during treatment and help allay patient anxiety.
• Accurately and appropriately record provided treatment.
• Teach proper oral hygiene techniques to patients.
• Counsel patients on oral health, including the role of nutrition.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist Treatment Room Management and Sterilization.
• Check treatment room for cleanliness and make necessary changes.
• Check and turn on treatment room equipment. Maintain an accurate count of all equipment daily in a secured environment.
• Clean treatment room at the end of the day and turn off equipment.
• Maintain a supply inventory for hygiene treatment.
• Review, select and submit orders for patient education materials for the practice.
• Submit supply orders to supply clerk/AA once a month or as necessary.
• Properly discard all disposable items from each visit in a secure fashion.
• Assemble soiled instruments and place in sterilization area.
• Clean treatment room surfaces with disinfectant solution.
• Pre-soak soiled instruments in a disinfectant.
• Sort and package instruments by tray for proper sterilization.
• Load, activate and vent the sterilization unit according to manufacturer’s directions.
• Store instruments and trays in locked appropriate places to maintain safety and security.
• Securely store and handle patient records in compliance with office policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, such as HIPAA regulations.
• Accurately record medical and dental histories.
• Accurately file patient information.
• Arrange patient charts.
• Be an active participant in team meetings.
• Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office.

• Must be licensed to practice in state and meet other applicable state requirements.
• Must have completed at least 2 years of post‑secondary education from an accredited dental hygiene program.
• Experience providing prophylaxis and taking X‑rays.
• Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists and coworkers.
• Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff.

• 401(k)
• Paid time off

In person

Entry level

Part‑time

Health Care Provider

Hospitals and Health Care