Private College Zone


Dental Hygienists

Description
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. Click here to see a video on Dental Hygienists
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Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Tasks

  • Cleans calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
  • Provides clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health of school children.
  • Removes excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
  • Places and removes rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
  • Feels lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
  • Examines gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
  • Administers local anesthetic agents.
  • Exposes and develops x-ray film.
  • Removes sutures and dressings.
  • Makes impressions for study casts.
  • Places, carves, and finishes amalgam restorations.
  • Feels and visually examines gums for sores and signs of disease.
  • Charts conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
  • Conducts dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
  • Applies fluorides and other cavity-preventing agents to arrest dental decay.

National Average Salary

$56,770.00/year

Important Abilities

   1. Arm-Hand Steadiness
   2. Oral Expression
   3. Manual Dexterity
   4. Information Ordering
   5. Oral Comprehension

General Work Activities

   1. Assisting and Caring for Others
   2. Handling and Moving Objects
   3. Performing for/Working With Public
   4. Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
   5. Communicating With Persons Outside Organization

Important Skills

   1. Reading Comprehension
   2. Problem Identification
   3. Speaking
   4. Science
   5. Critical Thinking

Frequent Work Context

   1. Job-Required Social Interaction
   2. Consequence of Error
   3. Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
   4. Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
   5. Indoors

Related Careers

Related Majors (A) Associate (B) Bachelors (C) Certificate (D) Doctor (M) Master





















Institutions Offering Related Majors

   No Institution Found

The majors and institutions listed here are based on the current information in our database. Please be aware this information may be subject to change. We strongly encourage you to consult with your career counselor.





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