Employment Opportunities

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive oral health and dental hygiene treatment to diverse patient groups with assistance from members of the dental service.

- Be subject to the same Quality Control standards as those applied to comparable military or civil service dental hygienists.

The hygienist shall be able to perform the full range of dental services commensurate with the dental hygienist specialty. Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

Patient Evaluation. Complete an evaluation of every patient and formulate a dental hygiene diagnosis and treatment plan, in collaboration with the dentist and patient. Examine patient’s oral cavity including mouth, throat, and pharynx. Record conditions of teeth and surrounding areas. Refer patients with abnormalities to the dentist. Clinical hygienists usually work alone in a treatment room designed to provide preventive, therapeutic and education services, and work under the supervision of a dentist.

Qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: oral prophylaxis, preliminary periodontal examinations involving diagnostic tests and x-rays, oral health education, preparation of treatment plans for plaque control, and application of topical fluorides and desensitizing agents to the teeth. Additionally, the position requires planning, conducting, and evaluating preventive dental health programs. The position of dental hygienist requires a knowledge of the concepts, techniques, and procedures of dental hygiene.

Education. The dental hygienist shall be a graduate of an ADA accredited dental hygiene school.

Licensure/Registration. The dental hygienist shall possess a valid license to practice dental hygiene from a United States (US) jurisdiction, state, or territory.

Experience. As a minimum, the dental hygienist shall have a minimum of 1 year of experience following graduation from dental hygiene school. Dental Hygienist shall be capable of performing the full range of dental hygiene services commensurate with a general dental hygienist. In addition, each dental hygienist shall have been performing clinical dental hygiene services during 12 of the last 36.