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Dental Hygienists

  • Health Science

Tasks

What tasks do Dental Hygienists perform?

  • Record and review patient medical histories.

  • Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.

  • Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.

  • Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.


Knowledge

What do Dental Hygienists need to know?

  • Medicine and Dentistry

    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Psychology

    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.


Skills

What skills do Dental Hygienists need?

  • Active Listening

    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

  • Critical Thinking

    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

  • Speaking

    Talking to others to convey information effectively.



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Data on career profiles are based on information supplied by the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration.