Technical Standards for Dental Hygiene Students: Essential Abilities

Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on prevention and treating oral diseases – both to protect teeth and gums, and also to protect patient's total health. They are graduates of accredited dental hygiene educational programs in colleges and universities, and must take a written national board examination and a clinical examination before they are licensed to practice in a particular state. In addition to treating patients directly, dental hygienists may also work as educators, researcher, and administrators.
Source: adha.org. 2008

*The University complies with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Disabilities Act of 1990. Therefore, the University will make reasonable accommodations for participants with disabilities who are otherwise qualified.

Technical Standards for Dental Hygiene and Essential Abilities

This occupation requires one to:

Administer oral hygiene care to patients
Assess patients’ oral hygiene concerns or issues
Maintain health records
Educate patients on oral health and disease prevention

Tasks:

Review and document patients medical and dental histories
Feel and visually examine oral tissues for sores and signs of disease
Palpating the head and neck region to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer
Examine gums, by using a dental instrument called a probe, to identify periodontal issues and signs of gum disease
Remove biofilm, calculus, and stains from teeth and above and below the gumline, using dental instruments
Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health for patients of all ages
Expose and interpret dental radiographs
Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis by a dentist
Application of caries-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants
Administer local or topical anesthetics or nitrous analgesia for pain management
Take impressions for study casts and whitening trays
Maintain dental equipment, sharpen, and sterilize instruments
Maintain a patient recall system
Work in a team environment
Life-long learning

Technology and Tools used:

Use of computer software and technology
Hand instruments used for assessing and cleaning teeth and piezoelectric and magnetostrictive ultrasonic scalers.
Digital, traditional dental radiographs including panoramic radiographs and portable x-ray units (not used at FSU)
Teeth cleaning devices or accessories – air driven dental polishers; air/water syringes; motor driven dental polishers.
Dental lasers (not currently used at FSU) & caries detection aids.

Work Activities

Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
Assisting and caring for others
Working with the public
Documenting information
Critical thinking skills and problem solving
Using relevant knowledge
Handling and moving objects
Resolving conflicts
Identifying objects, actions, and events
Monitor processes and materials
Organizing, planning and prioritizing
General physical activities
Perform office work

Work Environment

Primarily in a dental office
Repetitive motions
Use hands to handle, control or feel objects, tools or controls
Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - scrubs, safety glasses with side shields, face shields, masks, closed toe shoes, etc.
Majority of the time a dental hygienist will sit while performing duties. There is also walking, bending and twisting.

Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
Customer and Personal Service
Psychology, chemistry, biology
Sales and Marketing
Public Safety and Security
Production and Processing

Skills

Proficient in the English Language
Active listening
Communicate effectively
Active Learning
Reading Comprehension
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Social Perceptiveness
Problem solving
Coordination
Writing

Essential Abilities

Arm-hand steadiness
Finger Dexterity – being able to grasp, manipulate or assemble very small objects and have coordinated movements with fingers.
Manual Dexterity – The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand and forearm, or two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Near Vision – The ability to see details at close range.
Visual color discrimination – being able to see differences between shades of color and brightness.
Problem Sensitivity – The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Control Precision – The ability to adjust the controls of a machine quickly and repeatedly to exact positions.
Selective Attention – The ability to concentrate on a task over a period without being distracted.
Deductive Reasoning – The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Language Ability

Oral Expression/Speech Clarity/Recognition – The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you and to have the ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Be able to read small, printed labels on medications and other pertinent supplies.
Must be able to read, write, speak, record and report in English. Must be able to comprehend written and oral directions given in English and the ability to carry them out.

Work Styles

Dependable
Attention to Detail
Concern for Others
Independence
Integrity
Self-Control
Stress Tolerance
Initiative
Achievement/Effort
Leadership
Persistence
Analytical thinking
Innovation
Adaptability and flexibility

Clinical Assessments

Must be able to successfully demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodation, competence of clinical skills in both laboratory and clinical settings.

Source: O*Net OnLine Summary Report for Dental Hygienists, https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1292.00