Dentist Hygienist I. Position Summary: Responsible for providing high quality hygiene treatment and care to patients. II. Essential Functions/Responsibilities: • Check on daily schedule with the receptionist for hygiene patients · Carefully review patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary · Accurately chart each patient’s periodontal health · Perform thorough and gentle prophylaxis to patients · Perform scaling, root planing, and selective polishing for selective patients · Administer local anesthetics, if permitted by state regulations · Place medicaments subgingivally (under the gum line) for periodontal disease treatment, if permitted by state regulations · Provide X-rays for patients as prescribed by dentist · Apply cavity-preventative agents such as fluorides and sealants · Perform head and neck examinations · Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way · Check on patient comfort during treatment; help allay patient anxiety · Take accurate notes on the provided treatment · Teach proper oral hygiene techniques to patients · Counsel patients on proper nutrition, oral health, and the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco · Perform other tasks assigned · Check and maintain hygiene area for cleanliness · Check and turn on hygiene room equipment · Monitor hygiene supply inventory and submit supply orders to Clinical Coordinator · Assemble soiled instruments, place in sterilization area, and sort / package instruments by tray for proper sterilization · Clean Hygiene bay surfaces with disinfectant solution according to OSHA regulations · Load, activate, and vent the sterilization unit according to manufacturer’s directions and OSHA regulations · Store sterilized instruments and trays in appropriate places · See that records are stored securely and handled in compliance with legal requirements, including the HIPAA privacy and security regulations if applicable · Accurately combine chart and notes with larger patient information · Complete X-Ray Log as appropriate · Provide referral to and from other doctors to guardian as instructed by Dentist III. Skills/Certifications: · Dental hygienists must be licensed and in good standing with the State of South Carolina. · Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate. IV. Education Required: · Associates or Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene.