The Dental Hygienist provides a variety of health care functions in accordance with the principles and practices of Dental Hygiene. Dental Hygienist:Evaluates patient's oral health and hygiene status, performs necessary x-rays, panelipse, periodontal evaluation, and prophylaxis procedures. Maintains responsibility for the care and safety of patients during treatment. Provides necessary oral hygiene instruction with patient or caretaker and maintains follow-up. Follows guidelines in policy and procedure manual for safe sterilization and cleaning of dental operatories. Assist other dental team members as needed with delivery of patient care. Under direct supervision of the dentist or general supervision, provides direction to patients, patient caretakers, and students. Communicates with physicians, patients, patient's families, and dental team regarding treatment and progress. In the hospital dental practice environment there is a high exposure to infectious disease patients, demanding or combative patients. Physical requirements for essential job functions includes: occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and talking (person-to-person, telephone, intercom); frequent reaching, handling, fingering, feeling, grasping, repetitive movement (periodontal exam, probing, scaling, polishing), hearing (person-to-person, telephone, intercom), seeing (near and far), depth perception, color vision, and field of vision. Environmental factors in performing essential job functions includes: noise (handpiece noise along with fiber optic light fan and vacuum), mechanical and electrical hazards, burns (gas & alcohol flame for lab), radiant energy (x-ray units), chemicals, exposure to blood and body fluids, fumes and odors, dust (dental stone), mist (handpiece aerosols, air, H 2 O syringe, saliva), gases (nitrous oxide), face mask fibers, working alone (lab duties), and working closely with others (performing dental procedures).