Dental Hygienists

Typical job duties performed with this occupation include:

TASK DUTIES
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.
Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
Apply fluorides or other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
Expose and develop x-ray film.
Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
Make impressions for study casts.
Administer local anesthetic agents.
Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
Remove sutures and dressings.
Place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
Record and review patient medical histories.
Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
Maintain dental equipment and sharpen and sterilize dental instruments.
Maintain patient recall system.
+

*Note: Not all occupations will have a full list of Task Duties or associated programs

---

Training for this occupational program or those in a similar family of programs can be located at the following postsecondary institutions in the State of Kansas. Please check with a program advisor at the postsecondary institution for more information on the particular focus of each program listed. Programs nearest the local area appear first. Click on the program to find more information.

INSTITUTION NAME	CITY	INSTITUTION TYPE	PROGRAM TITLE	AWARDS	HOURS

---