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Dental Hygienist Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Dental Hygienist job description provides support services for patients who visit a dental office. Their duties include cleaning teeth and gums, treating gum disease and tooth decay and providing oral health information to patients.

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Dental Hygienist duties and responsibilities

A Dental Hygienist is the first point of contact when patients visit a dental clinic. Their duties include screening patients, educating them about their diet and how it impacts their oral health and counselling them during and after treatment. Dental Hygienists can also perform minor dental procedures such as cleaning the teeth and gums, removing plaque and fixing dentures. Other responsibilities include:

  • Counselling patients and keeping them calm during examination and treatment
  • Screening patients, including conducting mouth and neck examinations and reviewing oral health history
  • Educating patients on proper teeth and gum care and the importance of diet on oral health
  • Taking X-rays and developing dental impressions and radiographs of teeth
  • Sterilising dental instruments and equipment
  • Removing plaque, cleaning teeth and helping to prevent gum disease
  • Supporting the Dentist on all aspects of dental care
  • Staying current with the latest developments in dentistry
  • Collecting medical and dental histories from patients
  • Charting dental conditions based on observations and evaluations
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Dental Hygienist Job Description Examples:

Example 1

About us

Cat Hill Dental Practice is a small business in Barnet. We are professional, inclusive, supportive, and our goal is to make sure we provide a safe and effective and caring environment to care for patients.

We are looking for a Dental Hygienist to join our team. The ideal candidate will have experience in providing preventative dental care, such as scaling and polishing teeth, and educating patients on proper oral hygiene. The successful candidate will also be responsible for assisting the dentist with patient care procedures, as well as maintaining accurate patient records. Our team is committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients, so we are looking for a professional who is passionate about dentistry and patient satisfaction.

Responsibilities:

  • Clean and polish teeth using various tools.
  • Educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques.
  • Remove plaque and calculus from teeth.
  • Perform routine gum assessment.
  • Maintain patient records.
  • Provide patient education on oral health care.

    Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
    Part-time hours: 15 per week

    Salary: £30.00-£36.00 per hour

    Schedule:
  • Monday to Friday



    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Barnet: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Experience:
  • Dental Hygienist: 2 years (preferred)

    Language:
  • English (required)

    Licence/Certification:
  • GDC Registration (required)

    Work authorisation:
  • United Kingdom (required)


    Work Location: In deadline: 16/09/2023

    • Example 2

    Saturday Dental Hygienist required at Lovat House Dental, Specialist, Implant and Aesthetic Care in Cheltenham.

    To work on Saturdays, number of days per month and length of hours negotiable.

    Immediate start. Busy private practice.

    Remuneration £42.50 per hour (plus up to an additional £8 per hour bonus for Airflow treatments) on a self-employed basis. The position could also be available on an employed basis

    Support from Periodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Oral surgery registered specialists.

    We offer:

  • 30 minute appointments as a minimum.
  • A dedicated dental nurse.
  • Opportunity to work alongside and be supported by our in house Periodontal Specialist.
  • Cavitron and Piezo scalers
  • Airflow Prophylaxis Master- ready for GBT
  • Extensive range of hand instruments/ LM-Rondo Plus sharpening machine.
  • Be part of a friendly, happy team.
  • Self employed position (employed also considered)
  • Parking outside the practice and lovely location.
  • Some CPD courses provided.
  • Clear care pathways/ dentist prescriptions based on in house hygienist protocol which is based on the British Society of Periodontology best practice guidance.

    The ideal candidate should be:

  • Enthusiastic and highly motivated.
  • Be fun and friendly.
  • Have 2 years minimum experience.
  • Somebody who thrives in a busy, fast paced environment.
  • Able to provide excellent patient care to a high standard
  • Able to customise courses of non- surgical periodontal therapy to individual patient needs working within BSP guidelines with dentist and Periodontist support.
  • Enthusiastic and happy to take on new challenges.
  • Willingness to go the extra mile for patients.
  • The drive and enthusiasm to help develop and maintain hygienist services within an expanding practice.

    To be considered for this exciting role please send a copy of your cv and a covering letter. To discuss the role please contact Allisa on 01242 522841.

    Licence/Certification:

  • GDC Registration (required)

    Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

    Salary: From £42.50 per hour

    Benefits:
  • Free parking
    Schedule:
  • Weekends only
    Supplemental pay types:
  • Commission pay



    Experience:
  • Dental Hygienist: 2 years (preferred)

    Licence/Certification:
  • GDC Registration Location: In person

    • Example 3

    We are pleased to announce a new vacancy has become available for a Dental Hygienist to join our friendly Orthodontic Practice based in Sutton.



    Essential Skills:

    · Good communication skills

    · Excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken

    · Must be Reliable and trustworthy

    · Caring, warm and friendly with patients

    · Ability to work in a team



    Required licenses or certifications:

    · GDC Registered

    · Full indemnity cover

    · Valid Immunisations (Hep B)

    · DBS

    · CPD certificates



    Hours of work available:

    Alternative Saturdays (every 2nd and 4th)

    Job Type: Part-time
    Part-time hours: 6 per week

    Salary: £27.00-£42.00 per hour

    Benefits:
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • Weekend availability



    Experience:
  • Dental Hygienist: 1 year (required)

    Licence/Certification:
  • GDC Registration Location: In person

    • Example 4

    Here at Bupa Dental Care our people are at the heart of everything we do, because we care. We have created environments where people can look forward to coming to work, feel empowered and benefit from working collaboratively with brilliant & talented experts. As a Hygienist you’ll be benefiting from an experienced practice team, a well-managed appointment book, exceptional development and opportunities to take you as far as you want to go; and that’s just to mention a few. Dental Hygienist vacancy details: Hygienist - Brixham 2 days per week (Tuesday and Friday) Hourly rate Continuous Professional Development Benefits of your associateship with Bupa Dental Care as a Dental Hygienist 15% discount on Bupa health insurance for you and any dependents Access to discounted indemnity Additional discount for utilising Bupa Dental Care Labs Highest standards of clinical governance and expert practice support - giving you the time to concentrate on patient care. A large support network of clinicians and regional external events Access to an in-house complaint team and medico legal support Discounted continuous professional development (CPD) Sponsored education Established career pathways Well-managed and Full appointment book Practice level marketing support Access to the latest equipment and technology Earn up to £3,000 per referral in our employee/associate referral scheme Your career at Bupa Dental Care Our aim is simple: to deliver world-class patient care in dentistry. We do this by putting our patients and people at the heart of everything we do. This means we give you the clinical freedom to be your best - and a range of opportunities to continually develop your career with us. We’ve chosen to provide services via the NHS and privately - we're the largest provider of private dentistry in the UK - giving patients real flexibility and freedom of choice. Why we're different As the only corporate dental provider in the UK not backed by private equity, we’re in a unique position. We’re committed to the UK dental industry for the long-term – both private and NHS – and are ready to treat not just today’s patients, but generations to come. Furthermore, as a limited liability company Bupa has no shareholders, so we’re able to focus 100% on delivering a great service for our customers. We are run commercially to ensure we remain competitive, but Bupa reinvests 100% of its profits to help provide better care for patients across the world. To discuss the role and your options available for this position, contact our Clinical Resourcing Business Partner: Gemma Dart Mobile: 07936 360214 Email: We update our website daily with all our opportunities across the UK and Ireland. If you want to find out a bit more about us, please visit our careers website.

    Example 5

    Newport Road Dental are currently looking to recruit a Dental Hygienist / Therapist to join their mixed practice clinic based in Cardiff.

    Ideally candidates would be available to start as soon as possible, though we will take notice periods into consideration for the right candidate.

    All applicants MUST have at least 1 years experience within the role of a Dental Hygenist / Therapist and be GDC registered.

    The hours of work are: 8:45am - 4:15pm Monday - Thursday (1/2 hour Lunch)

    Salary is dependant on experience and TBA with the suitable candidate.

    The role of a Dental Hygienist / Therapist is to assist the dentist in various procedures and to be conversant with the processing where necessary of x-rays.

    Dentist Hygienist / Therapist Responsibilities:

    · To use dental instruments to clean accretions, calcareous deposits, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums.

    · To look for indications of oral cancer by feeling lymph nodes under patient chins for signs of tenderness or swelling.

    · To note and review patient medical history.

    · To use probes to examine and locate periodontal recessed gums and other signs of gum disease.

    · To record dental decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentists.

    · To maintain dental equipment and x-ray machines.

    · To feel and visually examining gums for signs of disease, sores, and other dental health issues.

    · To expose and develop x-ray films as required.

    · To sterilize dental instruments in accordance with manufacturers guidelines

    · To actively Promote preventative dental care to improve patient oral health care.

    · To apply fluorides and other dental decay preventing agents.

    · To work with dentists and dental nurses on a day to day basis to provide the best care for all patients.

    · To maintain a dental hygiene program for patients

    Dentist Hygienist / Therapist Requirements:

  • Proven qualifications in Dental Hygiene / Therapy.
  • CPD Maintained at all times / in line with GDC requirements
  • Current on all Hepatitis B vaccination.
  • Ability to administer local anesthetic as required.
  • Able to use an x-ray machine.
  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Comfortable using computers for a variety of tasks.
  • Knowledgeable about oral hygiene and dental health.

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

    Salary: £21.50-£30.00 per hour

    Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift

    COVID-19 considerations:
    All patients are required to wear a mask to enter the practice, pre-qualified questionnaires are sent out ahead of appointment. Patients are required to use the hand sanitisers provided within the practice

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Cardiff, CF24 1RL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Experience:
  • Dental Hygienist: 1 year (required)

    Licence/Certification:
  • GDC Registration Location: One location

    • What does a Dental Hygienist do?

    Dental Hygienists examine and clean patients’ teeth, offer advice and educate patients on how to take care of their gums and teeth to prevent dental decay and enhance their oral health. Dental Hygienists check patients for oral diseases such as tooth decay and gingivitis. After screening patients and determining the severity of any oral issues, the Dental Hygienists will write a report recommending a suitable treatment and send it to the Dentist. In many dental practices, Dental Hygienists will also take X-rays to support patients’ diagnosis and treatment.

    Dental Hygienist skills and qualifications

    Candidates often require a two or three year foundational Degree in Oral Health Sciences and must register with the General Dental Council (GDC) in order to practice. A successful Dental Hygiene candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications needed to perform duties effectively including:

    • A Degree in Oral Health Sciences from a GDC-approved programme or Diploma, Higher National Certificate (HNC ) equivalent in Dental Hygiene or Dental Therapy
    • Registration with the GDC
    • In-depth knowledge of medicine, dentistry, dental health and safety regulations
    • The skill to handle dental tools with accuracy
    • Attention to detail and the ability to stay calm under stressful conditions
    • Excellent written and oral communication skills
    • Knowledge of preparing and maintaining dental equipment
    • Physical stamina

    Dental Hygienist experience requirements

    A Dental Hygienist’s job requires outstanding knowledge of dental procedures and excellent communication skills. The role requires being able to work with patients of all ages before, during and after their diagnosis and treatment. Dental Hygienists must be thorough and detail-oriented, as these qualities are essential during oral examinations and procedures such as plaque removals. They must be good with their hands and skillful at using dental instruments inside the patient’s mouth.

    Experienced Dental Hygienists will know how to apply local anesthetics under the Dentist’s supervision, clean and polish teeth, treat gum disease and apply sealants and coatings to improve the dental health of patients. Dental Hygienists must be able to maintain a sterile environment, maintain dental equipment and review and update patient records. They must also be able to educate and advise patients on proper ways to care for their teeth and encourage them to follow treatments correctly.

    Dental Hygienist education and training requirements

    Dental Hygienists require a two year foundation Degree in Oral Health Sciences or Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy or a three year degree in the same discipline. Candidates can also hold a diploma of higher education HNC equivalent to qualify for employment. To practice as a Dental Hygienist, candidates must register with the GDC after completing a program accredited by the body. Dental Hygienists often require a thorough background checks because they work closely with patients in a medical setting. They should also have a basic understanding and knowledge of NHS privacy rules.

    Dental Hygienist salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary of a Dental Hygienist is £29.42 per hour. However, actual pay depends on factors such as experience, qualifications, the employer and location.

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    Dental Hygienist job description FAQs

    What qualities should a Dental Hygienist have?

    A successful Dental Hygienist must have these qualities:

    • Patience and understanding
    • Compassion
    • Physical stamina
    • Good hand-eye coordination

    What is a typical day for a Dental Hygienist?

    Dental Hygienists work up to eight hours per day and three to four days per week. A typical day at the dental clinic can involve treating one patient per hour, depending on the number of patients their employer gets per day.

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