Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop X-rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.

• Dental Hygienist

• Administer local anesthetic agents.
• Apply fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
• Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
• Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
• Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
• Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
• Expose and develop x-ray film.
• Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
• Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
• Make impressions for study casts.
• Place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
• Place, carve, and finish amalgam restorations.
• Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health of school children.
• Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
• Remove sutures and dressings.

• administer anesthetics
• administer injections
• administer medications or treatments
• analyze dental data
• analyze medical data
• collect clinical data
• collect dental laboratory diagnostic data
• communicate technical information
• follow clinical radiation safety procedures
• follow dental or medical office procedures
• follow dental or medical x-ray procedures
• follow infectious materials procedures
• follow patient observation procedures
• identify body response variations
• inventory medical supplies or instruments
• maintain dental or medical records
• make presentations on health or medical issues
• observe patient condition
• operate dental equipment
• perform dental hygiene procedures
• prepare patient for dental work
• record medical history or data
• set up dental equipment
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use clinical sterilizing technique
• use darkroom procedures in radiology or medical or dental lab setting
• use dental treatment procedures
• use emergency medical procedures
• use hazardous materials information
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use knowledge of dental terminology
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use quality assurance techniques
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses