Dental hygienists are extremely important members of the dental team. They work directly with patients, helping them properly care for their oral health.  Discover why each skill is vital and find areas where you may learn and develop to prepare for a career in dental hygiene. Knowing what skills dental hygienists need will help determine whether or not you want to pursue this career path.

In this article, we'll look at a dental hygienist's top 10 soft skills and see if this career might be the right one for you!

1. People Skills

Although technical skills are required to accomplish job-related tasks, a dental hygienist must interact with patients in a very close and personal setting.  A dental hygienist's job is to make patients feel at ease and stress-free. This can only be accomplished if dental hygienists have skills or traits that allow them to build an authentic and genuine connection with patients.

2. Time Management Skills

Dental hygienists must be able to prioritize their job and manage their time effectively. Their schedules are quite tight, and they must complete a lot of work for each patient in a short amount of time. Planning ahead, being organized and prioritizing tasks are essential skills for a dental hygienist.

3. Attention to Detail

Another key quality for dental hygienists is attention to detail. To finish treatments, you must pay close attention to what you're doing. You must be able to concentrate on small aspects of a patient's teeth or gums.  Patients may not receive the best treatment if little things are overlooked. You might even end up harming them. Dental hygiene may not be for you if you aren't very detail-oriented.

4. Continual Learning

Dental hygienists receive extensive training to assess and treat a wide range of patients. Higher education degrees vary from an associate's degree to a master's degree. To demonstrate competency and obtain licensure to practice, all dental hygienists must pass between 3-5 board examinations, regardless of their degree. Every 2-3 years, a licensed dental hygienist must renew their license by pursuing continuing education.

5. Compassion

When patients start getting anxious in the dental chair because they’re terrified of dentists, you’ll have to be a compassionate person to comfort them.

6. Problem Solving

Each patient is unique. You'll deal with challenges with each patient and need to be a good problem solver to provide the best customer service and care for their oral health. 

7. Ethical and Self-Directed Behavior

Dental hygienists are licensed professionals who make their own decisions and take responsibility for their actions. Although most dental hygienists operate under the supervision of a dentist, they must understand that they must have the character of a professional who upholds the standards of care and code of ethics set forth by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA). Hygienists' actions and behaviors must promote public health and safety, thus, they must deliver oral healthcare with a high level of professional knowledge, judgment, and expertise.

8. Oral Communication

To treat patients, you’ll need to talk to them. You’ll need to take patient histories, talk to patients about their oral care routines, and explain what you’re doing during treatments.  These tasks may be difficult for you if you are not a good communicator or if you are unsure about your communications skills.

9. Collaboration

Dental hygienists collaborate with dentists, dental assistants, and office administrators to organize patient visits and provide patient care. As a dental hygienist, you use teamwork through collaborating with other hygienists to treat all patients on schedule, brainstorming with dentists about the source of dental problems, and assisting during complex procedures.

10. Physical Endurance

Dental hygiene is a physically demanding career that requires the ability to bend and twist repeatedly when working with patients and fine and gross motor skills to grasp, handle, and control devices. A dental hygienist's vision and hearing are crucial since they must be able to notice details of objects and hear various sounds.

More Information 

6 Skills in High Demand for Dental Hygienists

Dental Hygienist Job Description

Dental Hygienist Skills to Include on Your Resume

Crucial Certifications and Skills You Need To Have To Be A Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist Skills Checklist  

 

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