Top 12 Hygienist Skills to Put on Your Resume

In the competitive field of dental hygiene, distinguishing yourself through a well-crafted resume is essential. Highlighting the top hygienist skills on your resume not only showcases your proficiency but also demonstrates your commitment to providing exceptional oral care and patient service.

Hygienist Skills

1. Periodontal Care
2. Radiography (Digital X-rays)
3. Prophylaxis
4. Dental Software (Dentrix)
5. Ultrasonic Scaling
6. Patient Education
7. Intraoral Camera
8. Sterilization Techniques
9. Sealant Application
10. Fluoride Treatments
11. Charting (Eaglesoft)
12. Local Anesthesia

1. Periodontal Care

Periodontal care, in the context of a dental hygienist, involves preventative and therapeutic measures to maintain and restore the health of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. This includes scaling, root planing, and educating patients on proper oral hygiene practices to prevent periodontal disease.

Why It's Important

Periodontal care is crucial for maintaining oral health by preventing, diagnosing, and treating gum disease, thereby protecting against tooth loss and systemic health issues. For a hygienist, it is essential for promoting overall wellness and ensuring patients maintain their natural teeth and healthy gums.

How to Improve Periodontal Care Skills

Improving periodontal care as a hygienist involves several key strategies:

1. Regular Scaling and Root Planing: Perform thorough scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from beneath the gumline. This helps in controlling the progression of periodontal disease. American Dental Association.

2. Patient Education: Educate patients on the importance of good oral hygiene practices, including correct brushing and flossing techniques. This is critical for the prevention and management of periodontal disease. American Academy of Periodontology.

3. Risk Factor Management: Identify and help manage risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and poor nutrition that can exacerbate periodontal issues. Providing guidance on lifestyle changes can significantly impact periodontal health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

4. Use of Antimicrobials: In some cases, recommend or apply antimicrobial agents or local antibiotic treatments to reduce bacterial load in periodontal pockets. Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

5. Regular Professional Development: Keep up-to-date with the latest periodontal care techniques and technologies through continuous professional development. This ensures the provision of the most effective care. American Dental Hygienists' Association.

By focusing on these areas, hygienists can significantly improve the periodontal health of their patients.

How to Display Periodontal Care Skills on Your Resume

2. Radiography (Digital X-rays)

Radiography, specifically digital X-rays, is a diagnostic tool used by hygienists to capture images of a patient's teeth and gums. It employs digital sensors instead of traditional photographic film, providing detailed views of the internal structures of the mouth to help in identifying issues like cavities, bone loss, and infections efficiently and with less radiation exposure.

Why It's Important

Radiography, particularly digital X-rays, is essential for hygienists as it provides detailed images of the teeth, bones, and soft tissues, helping in the early detection of dental issues like cavities, bone loss, and gum disease that are not visible during a standard oral examination. This enables timely and targeted interventions, ensuring optimal oral health.

How to Improve Radiography (Digital X-rays) Skills

Improving digital radiography in dental hygiene practice focuses on optimizing image quality, ensuring patient safety, and enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Here are concise strategies:

1. Regular Calibration and Maintenance: Ensure your digital radiography equipment is regularly calibrated and maintained to prevent image quality degradation. American Dental Association guidelines provide useful standards.

2. Continuing Education: Stay updated with the latest radiographic techniques and technologies through continuing education. Websites like DentalCare.com offer courses specifically for dental hygienists.

3. Optimize Exposure Settings: Tailor the exposure settings based on the patient's size and the area being imaged to reduce radiation dose and improve image quality. Radiation Protection in Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Imaging (NCRP Report No. 177) provides valuable insights.

4. Use of Appropriate Positioning Devices: Ensure the use of positioning devices to stabilize the patient and sensor, reducing motion artifacts and retakes. Dental Radiography Principles and Techniques is an excellent resource for mastering these techniques.

5. Image Enhancement Software: Utilize image enhancement software judiciously to improve the diagnostic quality of digital radiographs without misrepresenting the clinical situation. Familiarize yourself with the software's capabilities and limitations.

6. Implement Best Practices for Infection Control: Follow the CDC's Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings when handling digital radiography equipment to ensure patient and practitioner safety.

7. Patient Communication: Effectively communicate with patients about the importance of radiographs in dental health, addressing any concerns they may have about radiation exposure with evidence-based information, such as from the American Dental Association.

By focusing on these areas, dental hygienists can significantly improve the quality and safety of digital radiography in their practice.

How to Display Radiography (Digital X-rays) Skills on Your Resume

3. Prophylaxis

Prophylaxis, in the context of dental hygiene, refers to the professional cleaning of the teeth by a hygienist to prevent oral diseases, such as cavities and periodontal disease, by removing plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth surfaces.

Why It's Important

Prophylaxis is important for a hygienist because it helps prevent oral diseases by removing plaque and tartar, which can lead to cavities and gum disease, maintaining overall oral health.

How to Improve Prophylaxis Skills

Improving dental prophylaxis, particularly for a dental hygienist, involves several key strategies aimed at enhancing patient care and preventive measures. Here's a concise guide:

1. Continuing Education: Stay updated with the latest in dental hygiene by attending workshops, webinars, and conferences. American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) offers resources and continuing education opportunities.

2. Adopt Advanced Technologies: Utilize advanced tools like ultrasonic scalers and air polishing for more effective plaque and stain removal. Dental Economics often discusses the latest tools and technologies in dental hygiene.

3. Effective Communication Skills: Develop strong communication skills to better educate patients about the importance of oral health and preventive practices. The American Dental Association (ADA) provides resources on patient communication.

4. Practice Good Ergonomics: Adopting ergonomic practices and tools can reduce the physical strain often experienced by hygienists. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides guidelines on ergonomics in the workplace.

5. Implement Personalized Prophylaxis Plans: Tailor prophylaxis plans to meet the specific needs of each patient, considering factors like age, health history, and risk of periodontal disease. Journal of Dental Hygiene often publishes articles on personalized dental care strategies.

By focusing on these areas, a dental hygienist can significantly improve the effectiveness of dental prophylaxis, enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction.

How to Display Prophylaxis Skills on Your Resume

4. Dental Software (Dentrix)

Dental software, such as Dentrix, is a comprehensive digital tool designed to streamline various aspects of dental practice management. For a hygienist, it facilitates scheduling, patient record management, treatment planning, and communication, enhancing efficiency and patient care.

Why It's Important

Dental software like Dentrix is important for hygienists because it streamlines patient management by organizing schedules, maintaining accurate patient records, and facilitating easy access to treatment histories, thereby enhancing efficiency and patient care.

How to Improve Dental Software (Dentrix) Skills

Improving Dental Software, such as Dentrix, particularly for hygienists, involves enhancing usability, integration, and functionality. Here are concise strategies:

1. User-Centric Design: Focus on streamlining the user interface for hygienists. This involves simplifying navigation and ensuring that frequently used features are easily accessible. Nielsen Norman Group provides insights into usability that can be applied.

2. Customizable Workflows: Allow hygienists to customize their workflows within the software. This could include setting up preferred tools and information panels for quick access. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) offers guidelines on effective technology use in healthcare that can be adapted.

3. Enhanced Communication Tools: Improve internal communication features to allow for seamless collaboration with dentists and other staff. This includes real-time updates and messaging. The American Dental Association (ADA) provides resources on health informatics that can guide the development of these features.

4. Integration with Imaging Software: Ensure that Dentrix integrates flawlessly with various dental imaging software to allow hygienists to easily access and interpret patient images. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) offers standards and guidelines for imaging that could be useful.

5. Comprehensive Training Resources: Develop and provide accessible training materials and resources to help hygienists utilize all features efficiently. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) can be a reference point for educational standards in dental hygiene.

6. Robust Security Features: Enhance security measures to protect patient data, including encryption and secure access controls. Guidelines from The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) should be followed to ensure compliance.

7. Feedback Mechanism: Implement a straightforward mechanism for hygienists to provide feedback on the software, which can be used for continuous improvement. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) offers resources on patient safety and quality that include feedback mechanisms.

By focusing on these areas, Dentrix can significantly improve its service for hygienists, enhancing overall efficiency, security, and patient care.

How to Display Dental Software (Dentrix) Skills on Your Resume

5. Ultrasonic Scaling

Ultrasonic scaling is a dental cleaning procedure used by hygienists to remove plaque and calculus from teeth surfaces using high-frequency sound waves generated by an ultrasonic scaler.

Why It's Important

Ultrasonic scaling is important for a hygienist as it efficiently removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria from teeth and below the gumline, improving oral health and preventing gum disease.

How to Improve Ultrasonic Scaling Skills

Improving ultrasonic scaling involves enhancing technique, equipment maintenance, and patient comfort. Here are key tips:

1. Master Technique: Use a light, controlled grip, and keep the tip moving constantly to avoid discomfort and damage to the tooth surface. Focus on adapting the tip's lateral surfaces against the tooth for effective plaque and calculus removal. American Dental Association offers guidelines and courses for continuous skill improvement.

2. Select the Right Tip: Choose tips according to the area being treated (e.g., standard tips for general use, thin tips for periodontal pockets). Ensure tips are appropriate for the ultrasonic unit being used. Hu-Friedy provides a variety of tips designed for different scaling needs.

3. Maintain Equipment: Regularly inspect and replace worn tips, as their efficiency decreases with wear. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for maintenance and sterilization to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your ultrasonic scaler. Dentsply Sirona offers maintenance tips for their equipment.

4. Improve Patient Comfort: Use adequate water irrigation to prevent heat build-up, which can cause discomfort. Explain the procedure to the patient to reduce anxiety. Adjust power settings based on patient sensitivity and the amount of calculus.

5. Stay Updated: Continually educate yourself on new techniques, technologies, and best practices through reputable sources and continuing education courses. Websites like RDH Magazine frequently publish articles and CE courses on ultrasonic scaling and other topics relevant to dental hygienists.

By focusing on technique, equipment care, patient comfort, and ongoing education, hygienists can significantly improve the efficacy and efficiency of ultrasonic scaling.

How to Display Ultrasonic Scaling Skills on Your Resume

6. Patient Education

Patient education, in the context of a hygienist, involves informing and instructing patients on maintaining good oral hygiene practices, understanding the importance of regular dental care, and providing advice on preventing oral diseases.

Why It's Important

Patient education is crucial for a hygienist because it empowers patients to maintain optimal oral health through proper hygiene practices, understand the importance of regular dental visits, and make informed decisions about their treatment options. This education ultimately leads to improved dental health outcomes and prevention of oral diseases.

How to Improve Patient Education Skills

Improving patient education as a hygienist involves clear communication, personalized information, and leveraging technology. Here's a concise guide:

1. Utilize Visual Aids: Incorporate diagrams and models to illustrate dental issues and procedures. Resources like the American Dental Association offer visual materials tailored for patient education.

2. Leverage Digital Platforms: Share educational content through emails or text messages. Websites such as My Dental Hub provide patient education animations and videos.

3. Create Personalized Information Packs: Tailor educational materials to each patient's needs. Use services like Dental Care for customizable brochures and leaflets.

4. Engage in Active Listening: Understand patient concerns to address specific queries. Encourage questions to clarify doubts, promoting a more informed patient.

5. Follow-Up: Use follow-up calls or messages to reinforce key points and address any subsequent doubts. This continued engagement can be facilitated through patient management software.

By incorporating these strategies, hygienists can significantly enhance patient education, leading to better dental health outcomes.

How to Display Patient Education Skills on Your Resume

7. Intraoral Camera

An intraoral camera is a small, handheld device that a hygienist uses to take high-resolution images inside a patient's mouth, allowing for enhanced visualization and assessment of oral health conditions.

Why It's Important

An intraoral camera is important for a hygienist because it allows for enhanced visualization of a patient's oral cavity, facilitating more accurate and effective diagnosis, patient education, and documentation of dental conditions.

How to Improve Intraoral Camera Skills

Improving the use of an intraoral camera by a hygienist involves focusing on image quality, ease of use, and patient communication. Here are concise tips:

1. Enhance Image Quality: Select cameras with high resolution and good lighting capabilities to capture clear images. Regularly clean the lens for optimal clarity.
2. Ease of Use: Choose lightweight, ergonomically designed cameras to reduce hand fatigue. Familiarize yourself with the camera's features and practice to improve maneuverability in the patient's mouth.
3. Patient Communication: Use the camera's images to educate patients about their oral health. This involves explaining the images clearly and relating them to the patient's oral hygiene and potential treatments.

For further reading:

• American Dental Association (ADA) on Dental Imaging provides insights into the importance of image quality and patient communication.
• Colgate Professional discusses how intraoral cameras aid in patient education, emphasizing the role of clear images in improving patient understanding and treatment acceptance.

These resources can offer in-depth knowledge and tips to enhance the use of intraoral cameras in dental hygiene practices.

How to Display Intraoral Camera Skills on Your Resume

8. Sterilization Techniques

Sterilization techniques for a hygienist involve methods to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, from instruments and surfaces. Common methods include heat (steam under pressure, dry heat), chemical sterilants (ethylene oxide, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma), and filtration for liquids that cannot withstand heat. These techniques ensure that dental instruments and the environment are safe for patient care.

Why It's Important

Sterilization techniques are crucial for a hygienist to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment for both patients and healthcare providers.

How to Improve Sterilization Techniques Skills

Improving sterilization techniques is critical for hygienists to ensure the safety and well-being of patients. Here are concise strategies:

1. Stay Updated with Protocols: Regularly review and update protocols to align with the latest CDC guidelines.

2. Proper Training: Ensure all staff are trained and competent in sterilization procedures.

3. Regular Maintenance: Maintain and service sterilization equipment as recommended by the manufacturer's guidelines.

4. Use Indicators: Utilize biological, chemical, and mechanical indicators to verify the effectiveness of the sterilization cycle, as detailed by the ADA.

5. Documentation: Keep detailed records of sterilization cycles, including dates, times, and cycle parameters, to ensure traceability.

By implementing these steps, hygienists can enhance their sterilization techniques, ensuring a safe and hygienic environment for both patients and staff.

How to Display Sterilization Techniques Skills on Your Resume

9. Sealant Application

Sealant application, in a dental hygienist context, involves carefully applying a protective plastic coating to the chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars and premolars) to shield them from decay by sealing out food and bacteria.

Why It's Important

Sealant application is important as it acts as a protective barrier, effectively sealing the deep grooves and pits in teeth that are prone to decay. This prevents food particles and bacteria from accumulating, thereby reducing the risk of cavities and promoting overall oral health. For a hygienist, it's a critical preventative measure to safeguard a patient's dental well-being.

How to Improve Sealant Application Skills

To improve sealant application as a hygienist, follow these concise steps:

1. Preparation: Clean the tooth surface thoroughly with a brush or pumice to remove plaque or debris. ADA guidelines recommend a clean, dry surface for optimal adhesion.

2. Isolation: Use cotton rolls, dry angles, or a dental dam to isolate the tooth and keep it dry. Saliva contamination can compromise the sealant’s bond. CDC's recommendations emphasize the importance of proper isolation.

3. Etching: Apply an etching solution to the enamel surface for 15-20 seconds to create a rough surface for better sealant adhesion. Rinse thoroughly and dry. The NIH’s study supports etching for improved sealant efficacy.

4. Application: Apply the sealant material carefully to the prepared enamel surface, ensuring complete coverage of pits and fissures. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association provides technique guidance.

5. Curing: Use a dental curing light to harden the sealant. Follow the manufacturer's recommended curing time for effective results.

6. Evaluation: Check the sealant for proper coverage and occlusion. Adjust as necessary.

7. Education: Educate the patient on the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups to monitor the sealants. Oral Health Foundation offers patient-friendly resources.

By following these steps and keeping updated with professional guidelines, you can enhance your sealant application technique and contribute to better oral health outcomes.

How to Display Sealant Application Skills on Your Resume

10. Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride treatments are professional dental procedures where a high concentration of fluoride is applied to a patient's teeth by a hygienist. This treatment helps strengthen tooth enamel, making teeth more resistant to decay and reducing the risk of cavities.

Why It's Important

Fluoride treatments are important because they strengthen tooth enamel, making teeth more resistant to decay and helping to prevent cavities. This is a crucial preventive measure in dental hygiene care.

How to Improve Fluoride Treatments Skills

To enhance the effectiveness of fluoride treatments in a dental hygiene setting, consider the following concise tips:

1. Assessment Before Application: Evaluate the patient's caries risk to tailor the fluoride concentration and type. American Dental Association provides guidelines on risk assessment and appropriate fluoride use.

2. Use of Latest Application Techniques: Stay updated with the latest fluoride varnish and gel application techniques for maximum efficacy. The National Institutes of Health offers insights into advanced fluoride application methods.

3. Patient Education: Educate patients on the benefits and post-treatment care to ensure prolonged fluoride action. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides patient education resources.

4. Optimal Fluoride Formulation: Select the fluoride formulation best suited to the patient's age, risk level, and preferences. Journal of Dental Hygiene often publishes research on effective fluoride products.

5. Regular Training and Updates: Participate in continuous education to stay informed about the latest research and products in fluoride therapy. Websites like Dentalcare.com offer courses and updates for dental professionals.

Incorporating these strategies can significantly improve the effectiveness of fluoride treatments and enhance patient outcomes.

How to Display Fluoride Treatments Skills on Your Resume

11. Charting (Eaglesoft)

Charting in Eaglesoft, in the context of a hygienist, refers to the process of digitally recording and updating a patient's dental health information, including periodontal measurements, existing conditions, and treatment plans, using the Eaglesoft software. This facilitates efficient patient care management and documentation.

Why It's Important

Charting in Eaglesoft is crucial for a hygienist as it ensures accurate documentation of a patient's oral health status and treatment history, enabling personalized and effective dental care.

How to Improve Charting (Eaglesoft) Skills

Improving charting in Eaglesoft for a hygienist involves understanding the software's features and utilizing best practices for efficiency and accuracy. Here are concise steps to enhance your charting skills in Eaglesoft:

1. Familiarize with Eaglesoft's Charting Interface: Spend time navigating the charting module, understanding where all necessary tools and options are located. Patterson Dental's Eaglesoft support page provides resources and guides.

2. Use Eaglesoft's Shortcut Keys: Learn and use Eaglesoft's shortcut keys for common actions to speed up your charting process. This Eaglesoft Shortcut Guide can be a helpful reference.

3. Customize Your Toolbars: Customize the Eaglesoft toolbar to have the tools you use most frequently easily accessible. This toolbar customization guide walks you through the process.

4. Stay Updated with Eaglesoft Versions: Ensure you're using the latest version of Eaglesoft for the most up-to-date features and improvements. Check for updates on the Patterson Technology Center page.

5. Practice Consistent and Accurate Charting: Develop a routine that ensures all necessary information is accurately charted during each patient visit. Consistency is key to effective charting.

6. Attend Eaglesoft Training and Webinars: Participate in Eaglesoft training sessions and webinars to continuously improve your skills. Patterson Dental often offers educational opportunities.

By integrating these practices into your workflow, you'll enhance your efficiency and accuracy in using Eaglesoft for dental charting.

How to Display Charting (Eaglesoft) Skills on Your Resume

12. Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is a method used to temporarily numb a specific area of the body to prevent pain during dental procedures, allowing a dental hygienist to perform treatments comfortably and effectively.

Why It's Important

Local anesthesia is crucial for a hygienist as it numbs a specific area of the mouth, ensuring patient comfort and reducing pain during dental procedures such as deep cleanings or scaling, allowing for more thorough and effective treatment.

How to Improve Local Anesthesia Skills

Improving local anesthesia techniques for a hygienist involves understanding patient needs, mastering injection techniques, and staying informed about advancements in anesthetic agents. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Enhance Patient Comfort: Use a topical anesthetic before injections to reduce initial discomfort. Communicate clearly with patients about what to expect to ease anxiety.

2. Master Injection Techniques: Regularly practice and refine your techniques. Be precise with injection locations to ensure effective anesthesia while minimizing discomfort.

3. Stay Updated: Keep up with the latest developments in anesthetic agents and technologies. New formulations may offer longer-lasting effects or shorter onset times.

4. Use The Correct Equipment: Ensure needles and syringes are appropriate for the type of anesthesia being administered. Smaller gauge needles can reduce discomfort.

5. Continuing Education: Engage in continuing education opportunities to learn about new techniques and products. Online courses and workshops can be valuable resources.

For further reading and resources, consider the following links:

• American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA): Offers resources and continuing education opportunities focused on dental hygiene.

• Colgate Professional: Provides patient education materials and professional resources on anesthesia and pain control.

• DentalCare.com: Offers continuing education courses, including topics on local anesthesia techniques.

Remember, adhering to best practices and regulations is crucial for the safety and comfort of your patients.

How to Display Local Anesthesia Skills on Your Resume