Dental Hygienists

• Record and review patient medical histories.
• Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
• Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
• Expose and develop x-ray film.
• Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
• Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
• Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
• Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
• Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
• Maintain patient recall system.
• Administer local anesthetic agents.
• Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Dental Hygienists.

• 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.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Dental Hygienists.