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Dental Hygienist Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Dental Hygienist, or an Oral Hygienist, is a dental assistant who works with Dentists in cleaning, fixing, and evaluating teeth. Their duties include supporting Dentists and their staff in collecting medical records, providing oral hygiene education, and cleaning teeth.

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Dental Hygienist duties and responsibilities

There are many important duties and responsibilities a Dental Hygienist will focus on day-to-day. They will see many patients with varying dental needs. It is up to them to take a medical history, review a client’s teeth prior to the Dentist, and relay pertinent information to the Dentist. They may also need to: 

  • Chart the condition of teeth and the overall oral health of the patient
  • Create molds of the patient’s teeth for braces, dentures, and bridges
  • Sterilize and clean dental tools and medical areas
  • Educate patients on proper dental care and oral hygiene
  • Provide assistance and support to the Dentist during major operations and procedures
  • Complete patient intake examinations
  • Create a dental plan that addresses the patient’s financial status and insurance coverage
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Dental Hygienist Job Description Examples:

Example 1

Dentistry at the Lake is a long established patient centered, friendly dental office situated in Peterborough and we are looking for a long term hygienist to join our dynamic team passionate about caring for our patients.

If you take pride in creating beautiful smiles and caring for patients by delivering superlative dental hygiene care for your patients, this is a dental clinic you want to apply for. Our supportive team makes it enjoyable to work in our busy dental clinic.

We look forward to receive your resume.

We are a growing private practice with endless possibilities for growth. At Dentistryatthelake we have endless opportunities for advancement.

About the Position:

We are looking for a Dental Hygienist to help our team. The ideal candidate will be a reliable person who is organized and comfortable working with patients of all ages and cultures. We are looking for someone who has Dental Hygiene certification and can work autonomously while being extremely collaborative. The goal is to provide excellent customer service, maintain high quality patient care.

Responsibilities:

  • Perform periodic screenings and check patients� teeth for signs of oral disease (fluent in English).
  • Clean and assist patients with oral health issues (e.g., plaque removal, brushing, nutritional therapy).
  • Maintain professional patient relations while ensuring maximum comfort and satisfaction.
  • Develop and implement patient education programs to educate patients and their families on regular check-ups and next steps in health care.
  • Educate patients (e.g., on health benefits, cost of care, insurance eligibility)
  • Collaborate with team members (e.g., receptionists, doctors)
  • Educate patients about proper oral hygiene and health benefits (e.g., cost-benefit of floss)

    Experience:

  • Dental hygienist: 1 year (Required)

    Job Type: Part-time
    Part-time hours: 8-18 per week

    Salary: From $40.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • On-site parking
  • Paid time off
    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift
  • Day shift
  • Monday to Friday
    Supplemental pay types:
  • Bonus pay
  • Overtime pay



    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Peterborough, ON K9J 3G6: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Licence/Certification:
  • Dental Hygienist License (preferred)


    Work Location: In start date: 2023-09-20

    • Example 2

    We have an amazing opportunity to add a dental hygienist to our existing/growing hygiene team in Brampton! Looking for a team member to provide quality and ethical care for the community of Brampton.

    Candidate must be:

  • Available to work: Weekdays + Saturdays
  • Competitive compensation
  • Valid CDHO/CPR certification
  • Strong communication skills
  • Friendly chair-side manners

    Candidates must be legally eligible to work in Canada. We thank all applicants, but only suitable applicants will be contacted.

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

    Salary: $40.00-$50.00 per hour

    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift

    COVID-19 considerations:
    Yes

    Application question(s):
  • Are you available to work Saturdays? (We close for all long weekend Saturdays)

    Experience:
  • Dental Hygiene: 2 years (preferred)

    Licence/Certification:
  • Dental Hygienist License Location: One location

    • Example 3

    Toothworks Square One is looking to hire a full-time Registered Dental Hygienist to join our practice.

    The successful RDH candidate will have a passion for building strong patient relationships and contributing to their ongoing oral health. As an RDH, at this practice you will have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from a strong team of dental professionals. We offer a competitive compensation package with continuing education opportunities.

    Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday. Weekend availability as needed to cover team member vacations and/or sick days.

    Responsibilities:
  • Appropriately assess, plan, implement and evaluate services for patient care
  • Perform all aspects of clinical preventative hygiene services including scaling, root planning, polishing, topical fluoride, pit and fissure sealants and whitening to patients
  • Serve as an oral health educator by introducing new preventative techniques and counselling
  • Provide consistent patient experience during hygiene visit
  • Establish strong patient relationships while maintaining ethical professional behaviour
  • Establish and retain patient loyalty by delivering a tailored experience based on the patients' expectations
  • Demonstrate active listening and empathy to patients using effective communication skills

    Requirements:
  • Successful completion of a Dental Hygiene Diploma or Hygiene Degree program
  • Licensed and registered with the C.D.H.O
  • Valid CPR Certification
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Experience with Abeldent dental software considered an asset

    Job Type: Full-time

    Additional pay:
  • Commission pay
  • Overtime pay
    Benefits:
  • Company events
  • Dental care
  • Employee assistance program
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • Monday to availability

    • What does a Dental Hygienist do?

    A Dental Hygienist is an important support employee in a dental office. There are often several Dental Hygienists who work in one clinic and for different Dentists. Their main responsibility is to clean teeth, perform x-ray procedures, and provide support for clients and customers. In order for a Dental Hygienist to be successful, they must be diligent, have attention to detail, and be able to work collaboratively with others in the office.

    Dental Hygienist skills and qualifications

    A successful Dental Hygienist will have important skills and qualifications in order to perform their job safely and properly. Some of these may include:

    • Excellent verbal communication skills for working directly with patients
    • Written communication skills for documenting a patient’s medical history and oral health
    • Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed
    • Experience taking digital x-rays and other imaging

    Dental Hygienist experience requirements

    Ideally, a Dental Hygienist will have some prior experience working in dental hygiene, but that may not always be necessary. Candidates with a history of interaction with children in their work may be sought after, depending on the practice. Experience using digital software and varying platforms for imaging, record-taking, and communication would also generally be considered an asset for the applicant.

    Dental Hygienist education and training requirements

    A good Dental Hygienist candidate will have received training from an accredited school or training program in dental hygiene. They should be registered with their respective provincial colleges, such as the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO). Any other medical training would be considered as an asset to the candidate. It would be an asset if a candidate has taken continuing education courses in dental hygiene to advance their skills.

    Dental Hygienist salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Dental Hygienist is $39.61 per hour. This will depend on many factors, including where the dental office is located, the experience of the applicant, and the needs of the company.

    Job description samples for similar positions

    If the job description same for Dental Hygienist is not what you are looking for, there are other job description samples that may be helpful, including:

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    Dental Hygienist job description FAQs

    What is the difference between a Dental Hygienist and a Dental Assistant?

    A Dental Hygienist will work one-on-one with patients to help them with their oral hygiene. A Dental Assistant, in contrast, will focus on supporting and aiding a Dentist in their work.

    How can you make your Dental Hygienist job description stand out?

    In order to make your Dental Hygienist job description stand out, you should include the dental clinic’s proximity to public transportation, if parking is available, or any unique employee benefits. If you do not expect your Dental Hygienist to work weeknights or weekends, it would be beneficial to include this in the job description as it may be seen a positive highlight for your company. You can also include the approximate amount of hours you expect the Dental Hygienist to work.

    Who does a Dental Hygienist report to?

    A Dental Hygienist may report to a Dentist directly if they work at a dental office. However, some public health units will hire Dental Hygienists for cleaning programs. In that case, they may report to a Director of Operations at a public health office.

    Job Description Examples

    Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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