WHAT IS A DENTAL HYGIENE ASSISTANT?

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What is a Dental Hygiene Assistant?

Dental Hygiene Assistants are tasked with readying patients for treatments in order to lessen the workload and improve workflow efficiency for the dentist and hygienist. They may be required to review care plans with patients, organise and prepare equipment before procedures, take dental impressions and vital signs, and perform fluoride applications.

Dental hygienists are employed to assist the dentist by cleaning patient’s teeth, administering oral examinations and conducting X-rays. A Dental Hygiene Assistant aides the hygienist by prepping rooms before treatments, developing X-ray films and carrying out other office related tasks when the dentist and hygienist are unavailable.

What do Dental Hygiene Assistants do?

  • Receiving patients and preparing them for treatment.
  • Organising and dispensing medication, instruments and other dental supplies to dentists and hygienists.
  • Operating equipment such as water sprayers and suction units.
  • Taking dental impressions and performing fluoride applications.
  • Developing X-rays and prepping rooms, tools and other materials.
  • Conducting maintenance and sterilisation of tools and equipment.
  • Reviewing and discussing dental health and oral care plans with patients

Career snapshot for Dental Hygiene Assistant

  • The average age of working Dental Hygiene Assistants is 27.
  • 2.20% of Dental Hygiene Assistants are male.
  • 58.20% of Dental Hygiene Assistants work full-time and on average they work around 35.5 hours per week.
  • With A Certificate II or III, Dental Hygiene Assistants get paid $893 per week Before Tax.
  • Unemployment levels are average.
  • In 2015 records showed 18,400 employed Dental Hygiene Assistants.
  • The projected growth of the profession is estimated to be moderate with employment numbers around 19,300 by 2020.
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