Dental Hygienist job description template
Dental hygienists clean teeth, take X-rays, screen for gum disease and teach patients how to care for their teeth at home. Hygienists often weigh offers from several offices, so a strong post states the days you need, your appointment length, whether assisted hygiene is available and what equipment you use.
Dental Hygienist
Part-timeYour Company is looking for a licensed dental hygienist to care for our patients. You'll perform cleanings and periodontal maintenance, take X-rays, chart findings and help patients build habits that keep their teeth and gums healthy. We give hygiene appointments enough time for thorough work, and our dentist values your clinical judgment. If you enjoy patient education and seeing the same patients year after year, we'd like to talk.
What you’ll do
- Perform prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, and periodontal maintenance
- Take and review X-rays and intraoral photos, and record periodontal charting
- Screen for signs of oral cancer, decay and gum disease, and report findings to the dentist
- Apply fluoride varnish and sealants, and give local anesthesia if your state permit allows it
- Teach brushing, flossing and home-care techniques suited to each patient
- Review medical histories and take blood pressure before treatment
- Document treatment clearly and recommend recall intervals and follow-up care
- Sterilize instruments and keep your operatory clean and stocked between patients
What we’re looking for
- Completion of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program
- Current RDH license in our state
- Local anesthesia or nitrous oxide permit if our state requires one for those duties
- Current BLS for healthcare providers certification
- Gentle chairside manner and clear, nonjudgmental patient education
- Dependable on scheduled days, since patients book months in advance
Nice to have
- Experience running a soft-tissue management or periodontal program
- Comfortable with digital X-rays, intraoral cameras and ultrasonic scalers
- Charting experience in dental practice software such as Open Dental or Dentrix
Schedule
Part-time, two or three days a week during office hours, with an occasional evening or Saturday. We're open to adding days for the right person.
What we offer
- Complimentary dental care at our office
- Paid continuing education toward license renewal
- Paid time off, prorated for part-time schedules
- Allowance toward loupes or scrubs
Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.
Dental Hygienist our company is looking for a licensed dental hygienist to care for our patients. You'll perform cleanings and periodontal maintenance, take X-rays, chart findings and help patients build habits that keep their teeth and gums healthy. We give hygiene appointments enough time for thorough work, and our dentist values your clinical judgment. If you enjoy patient education and seeing the same patients year after year, we'd like to talk. What you’ll do • Perform prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, and periodontal maintenance • Take and review X-rays and intraoral photos, and record periodontal charting • Screen for signs of oral cancer, decay and gum disease, and report findings to the dentist • Apply fluoride varnish and sealants, and give local anesthesia if your state permit allows it • Teach brushing, flossing and home-care techniques suited to each patient • Review medical histories and take blood pressure before treatment • Document treatment clearly and recommend recall intervals and follow-up care • Sterilize instruments and keep your operatory clean and stocked between patients What we’re looking for • Completion of a CODA-accredited dental hygiene program • Current RDH license in our state • Local anesthesia or nitrous oxide permit if our state requires one for those duties • Current BLS for healthcare providers certification • Gentle chairside manner and clear, nonjudgmental patient education • Dependable on scheduled days, since patients book months in advance Nice to have • Experience running a soft-tissue management or periodontal program • Comfortable with digital X-rays, intraoral cameras and ultrasonic scalers • Charting experience in dental practice software such as Open Dental or Dentrix Schedule Part-time, two or three days a week during office hours, with an occasional evening or Saturday. We're open to adding days for the right person. What we offer • Complimentary dental care at our office • Paid continuing education toward license renewal • Paid time off, prorated for part-time schedules • Allowance toward loupes or scrubs
Screening questions for a dental hygienist
Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.
- Do you hold a current RDH license in our state?Yes / No · required
- Which days of the week are you available to work?Short answer · required
- Tell us about your approach to patient education and periodontal care.Paragraph
Dental Hygienist interview questions
- How do you explain scaling and root planing to a patient who thinks a regular cleaning is enough?
- What's your process for periodontal charting, and how do you keep it accurate?
- How do you stay on time when a patient needs more work than the appointment allows?
- Tell me about a finding you flagged for the dentist that turned out to be important.
- How do you adjust your approach for patients with dental anxiety or sensitive teeth?
- Which instruments and technology do you prefer, and why?
- What appointment length and support do you need to do your best work?
Tips for hiring a dental hygienist
- Verify the RDH license and any anesthesia or nitrous permits through your state dental board's online lookup.
- Good hygienists often have several offers, so reply within a day or two and put pay, days and appointment length in your post.
- Pay for a working interview on a real hygiene schedule to see their technique, timing and how they talk with patients.
- Share openings with nearby dental hygiene programs and your state's dental hygienists' association job board.