What Skills Are Required to Work as a Dental Hygienist?

Key Takeaways

• To work as a dental hygienist, you need a combination of clinical, communication, technical, and general professional skills.

• A dental hygienist must not only have skills to perform hygiene treatments and procedures but must also work well with patients and the dental team.

• Continuing education and ongoing professional development are valuable elements to being a successful dental hygienist and consistently providing quality care to patients.

• Dental hygienists can enhance their skill set by exploring flexible work opportunities to get their foot in the door and expand their knowledge.

Dental Hygienist Skillset Overview

A dental hygienist plays a crucial role in a dental practice, responsible for providing a positive patient experience, supporting the dentist, and delivering exceptional hygiene care to patients. The career outlook for dental hygienists is exceptionally strong, with consistent need in the field and a 9% job growth expected by 2033.

Dental professionals must possess a strong skill set to ensure excellent patient care on a day-to-day basis and also experience career growth and longevity. A wide skillset involves conducting the clinical skills that excellent dental hygiene services require, as well as the ability to create a comfortable environment for patients and work positively with the rest of the team. This guide outlines the dental hygienist skills required to succeed, ranging from technical abilities to soft skills.

Skills Needed To Be a Dental Hygienist

A dental hygienist must have an expansive toolbelt to best support patients and maintain the proper flow of the practice. Below are the most valuable skills needed to be a dental hygienist.

1. Educational Requirements & Licensure

First and foremost, dental hygienists must have a degree from an accredited dental hygiene program and a license from their state dental board to practice. Dental hygiene programs also require a clinical component, which involves hands-on training and supervised practicums.

After graduation, aspiring dental hygienists must pass the National Board of Dental Hygienists Exam (NBDHE). This exam covers multiple areas of dental hygiene and is an important prerequisite for all U.S. licensing jurisdictions.

Then, hygienists must also pass any relevant state-level exams that are required. Some states may have additional requirements, like CPR certification or a background check, for example, so it’s essential to check with your state dental board to understand all the necessary requirements.

2. Clinical & Technical Proficiency

Of course, it’s essential that a dental hygienist has the clinical and technical skills necessary to facilitate necessary dental hygiene procedures and treatments. A hygienist should be well-versed in carrying out multiple steps of patient care, ranging from conducting an initial assessment of patient vitals to performing actual hygiene treatments.

A skilled hygienist should have mastery of all the following types of procedures:

• Taking patient vitals
• Preventive treatments
• Teeth cleanings
• Fluoride application
• Sealant applications
• Radiography and imaging

These procedures will also involve using tools like ultrasonic scalers, air polishers, and hand instruments. A strong grasp of clinical and technical skills and the safety standards they require will be essential for ensuring both effective treatment and patient comfort in the process.

3. Infection Control & Safety Protocols

Not only must a hygienist be able to provide exceptional hygiene treatment, but they must also have a firm understanding of infection control and patient safety protocols in the process. Dental hygienists should be able to maintain care and caution during procedures while complying with all legal and regulatory standards.

Successful dental hygienists must have a detailed grasp of all the following procedures:

• Sterilization methods
• How to comply with CDC standards
• Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Effective disposal of sharps

As part of these procedures, hygienists should avoid cross-contamination of tools and materials as well as understand how to maintain a clear workspace and ensure proper protocols are followed in between patients. It’s this attention to detail and added care that sets dental hygienists apart.

4. Patient Communication & Education

As dental hygienists have a patient-facing role, the ability to effectively communicate with patients is a crucial element of the job that should not be overlooked. Being able to communicate with patients in a friendly and empathetic manner is crucial for providing a positive and comfortable patient environment.

Not only is a dental hygienist responsible for providing exceptional dental care in the moment, but they also play a vital role in educating patients on healthy oral hygiene habits to take home. It’s important that a dental hygienist is able to maintain care and compassion in all patient interactions to educate and communicate effectively.

A dental hygienist must be able to communicate with individuals of different age groups and with varying levels of understanding of oral health. A good hygienist can maintain the positivity to motivate patients to improve their home-care habits and encourage them to take charge of their oral health.

5. Interpersonal & Team Collaboration

Part of working in a dental practice is having the interpersonal skills to be able to collaborate with the rest of the staff for coordinating patient care. To be an effective dental hygienist, one must be able to work with the dentist, the dental assistants, and the receptionists in the office, so it’s crucial to be a strong team player.

Hygienists will need to build a strong rapport with their colleagues and support staff to foster a strong dynamic and overall positive workplace culture. It’s this culture that ensures effective coordination between dentists and specialists throughout patient intake and treatment.

These interpersonal skills help the dental practice flow more smoothly and ensure better collaborative care provided to patients. Like any collaborative work environment, it will also be important to have the communication skills to work with the team and navigate potential disagreements through conflict resolution and reasoning.

6. Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

On-the-job problem-solving and critical thinking are invaluable skills for a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist does far more than simply go through the motions of a patient cleaning and move on to the next. Not every patient will be the same, and not every case will be straightforward, calling for on-the-spot decision-making and adaptation.

To develop a proper treatment plan, treat unexpected conditions, and adequately address patient needs, you will need strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Hygienists must be able to use their clinical knowledge to make judgments for urgent decisions to ensure the patient gets the care they need.

7. Organizational & Time Management Skills

When moving through a tight schedule of patients, organizational skills and time management skills are essential. Dental hygienists should work closely with the skills of the dental assistant to prepare operating spaces between patients for a seamless workflow.

The ability to remain organized with all clinical supplies and patient documentation is crucial for maintaining a consistent workflow. In between providing treatments, hygienists will also need to take on other tasks that include updating charts, patient coding, and maintaining documentation.

Finally, time management skills will be essential for ensuring a smooth flow of patients, balancing varying appointment schedules, maintaining reasonable treatment times, and ensuring a positive patient experience.

8. Administrative & Digital Literacy

Though conducting hygiene treatments is the central part of the job, the backend administrative work often takes up just as much of the day. Competency with the various necessary administrative procedures, software, and technology for meeting patient needs is also necessary. Digital literacy is an often overlooked aspect of becoming an effective dental hygienist, but familiarity with practice management software and electronic health record technology is essential.

Procedures like scheduling, billing, charting, and insurance claim processing through the practice management software are all part of the daily routine. Meanwhile, the increase in telehealth visits and virtual patient consultations may also require an understanding of different technologies to meet patient needs.

9. Professionalism, Ethics & Cultural Competence

In any customer or patient-facing role, you will need to have the professionalism, competency, and respect to work with all kinds of people, from diverse backgrounds, age groups, and demographics. Being a dental hygienist is no different. Given the many types of people you will work with in the dental chair, cultural competence and inclusivity will be an important element of the job.

This competence also includes maintaining ethics and sensitivity to patient needs, such as the ability to uphold patient confidentiality by complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Hygienists must also be able to engage in ethical decision-making when engaging in patient care, meaning they should account for varying patient backgrounds and unique patient circumstances when coordinating care.

10. Continuing Education & Career Advancement

To truly succeed as a dental hygienist long term, you must also have a drive to continue learning and advancing your career. Continuing education and professional development are valuable for ensuring that you provide the best care to patients as well as for opening up future career opportunities.

Continuing education offers all the following benefits:

• Licensing Compliance: Many states require continuing education as a part of licensure requirements, and to renew your license in some states, you must demonstrate participation in continuing education.

• Career Advancement: Ongoing education provides opportunities for specialty certifications, like periodontics or pediatrics, that can help you meet unique patient needs and also prepares you for future leadership roles like practice management or staff education.

• Patient Care: Continuing education is crucial for staying up to date with current best practices and the latest technology in the industry so you can best serve patients.

All together, no dental hygienist should overlook the value of ongoing education. A consistent commitment to professional development provides the ability to grow in your role, continuously meet patient needs, and maintain a high standard of patient care.

Find Flexible Dental Hygienist Work with Toothio

Valuable skills needed to be a dental hygienist include technical skills, problem-solving, and strong communication, among others. If you’re interested in becoming a dental hygienist or are just starting out on your journey, exploring flexible work opportunities is a great way to get your foot in the door and build your experience and skillset.

Toothio empowers dental hygienists to put their skills to use, connecting talented dental professionals with quality temporary or permanent work opportunities in reputable dental practices that post jobs as open shifts arise. Our one-of-a-kind platform allows you to pick up shifts on your terms and at your preferred rates in several areas across the country, giving you unmatched flexibility in your work schedule without sacrificing the quality of the shift.

Sign up with Toothio today and start exploring available positions in your area.