How to Hire a Dental Hygienist – 4 Effective Tips for Hiring Dental Hygienist
How to hire a dental hygienist? This question is probably on your mind if you’re on this page. And it’s a good question!
Hiring the perfect dental office staff is an essential part of growing your practice.
We will walk through the major steps to hiring Dental Hygienist and link to specific tips, insights, and resources. How you hire Dental Hygienist should also be documented and templatized.
If you’re a current customer of VIVAHR, we recommend saving these templates in your settings to allow you to repeat the process in a matter of seconds.
1. Define what the perfect dental hygienist looks like for your office
Searching for the perfect candidate when working on a dental hygienist hiring for an open position is crucial to find someone who will be an excellent fit for you and your patients.
The ideal candidate should demonstrate enthusiasm in their work and possess patience, empathy, professionalism, and perseverance. In addition, they should have excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
Previous experience as a dental hygienist is preferred but optional if they can demonstrate initiative during the interview process.
Finally, someone willing to accept guidance constructively and participate in continuing education opportunities would make an ideal hire.
2. Create a job posting that accurately reflects your needs and desired qualifications
Writing an effective job posting is one of the most critical steps when dental hygienist hiring is your priority, and is key to finding the right talent.
It’s essential to choose words that accurately summarize job responsibilities and qualifications.
It would help if you also considered including incentives or other benefits when describing the position.
Crafting a thoughtful job posting attracts quality candidates who are eager for the role.
Investing time into creating a well-crafted post is worth the effort and can reward you with high-quality candidates, and help you hire dental hygienist suitable for your team.
Define the scope of work for the dental hygienist position
Dental hygienists are integral to a dental care team, with many associated tasks.
The scope of work includes providing dental hygiene services, performing patient assessments, taking alginate impressions, monitoring licensing requirements and patient vital signs, and performing various preventive services and treatments for oral conditions, such as fluorides, sealants, prophylactics, and deep cleanings.
Dental hygienists must also know to use cleaning tools and supplies properly, sterilize instrumentation, interpret radiographs, and track patients’ medical history.
Additionally, they must possess good record-keeping skills, including charting progress notes and health maintenance records, while adhering to all standards companies and governmental agencies set.
Overall dental hygienists should have excellent communication skills with patients and other staff members to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding providing exceptional oral care.
List the qualifications and experience required for the role
The ideal candidate for this position should have a minimum of two years of experience in a similar field and hold an Associate’s Degree or higher.
Communication and organizational skills, preferably with knowledge of basic office software suites.
Self-motivated and capable of working independently and collaboratively with other staff.
Describe the duties and responsibilities of a dental hygienist
A dental hygienist is a valuable asset to any dental office. They are essential in providing patient care and helping patients maximize their oral health.
The primary duties of a dental hygienist include cleaning teeth, taking digital X-rays, and educating patients on proper brushing and flossing techniques. In addition to the more routine tasks, hygienists also look for signs of decay or other conditions such as gingivitis or periodontal disease.
They perform a wide range of services that assist in preventing oral disease or catching it early before significant damage can occur.
Dental hygienists use their skills and expertise to make every patient feel comfortable for every visit by providing comprehensive care with compassion and empathy.
Outline the compensation and benefits package for the position
As a valued workplace member, this position’s compensation and benefits package includes a competitive salary and an attractive bonus structure.
The company also offers comprehensive health and dental care plans to eligible employees.
In addition to 401K and stock purchase plans, the company provides its employees with additional benefits such as disability insurance, vacation time, parental leave, flex time, and tuition reimbursement packages.
All of these are designed to ensure that our staff members can take full advantage of the opportunity presented by their chosen career path while staying connected to their families and personal ambitions.
3. Post the job opening on online job boards and social media platforms
Dental hygienist hiring can be challenging, so it’s essential to have a solid recruiting strategy.
If you are looking to fill a position, one of the best ways to ensure you get a variety of candidates to choose from is to focus your efforts online.
Posting the job opening on popular online job boards and social media platforms can be fruitful in getting attention for your position.
This method gives you increased visibility that cannot be achieved via other traditional methods.
Additionally, through online postings, there is an inherent element of accessibility for potential applicants; many who may not otherwise have seen the job advertised are now more likely to view it and apply.
Incorporating online sources into your recruitment strategy can bolster the chances of finding qualified individuals who can help propel your business into success.
4. Create an interview process when hiring dental hygienist
An excellent interview process can help ensure you hire dental hygienist that is most qualified and suitable for the position.
The key is to create an efficient process that fairly evaluates each applicant based on their qualifications and skills. Start by creating a list of desired attributes and qualifications and use this list to develop questions tailored to each role.
It’s vital to provide applicants with all the necessary information and ensure that relevant stakeholders have been included in the interview process to make an informed decision.
Once questions are finalized, candidates should be given ample time to answer each question thoroughly and openly so that their true selves may shine through and their answers can be effectively evaluated.
With a thoughtful and comprehensive interview plan, employers can efficiently identify the best match for any given role.
Candidate Scorecards
Creating candidate scorecards is an excellent way to ensure you pick the best candidate for a job. To create a scorecard, gather a team of knowledgeable professionals familiar with the responsibilities of the given role.
Ask that they each diligently review and rate resume and interview materials according to specific criteria outlined in the scorecard.
This process allows hiring teams to make informed decisions based on merit rather than personal preference or bias.
It also serves as an effective assessment tool when evaluating candidates against one another.
Candidate scorecards provide an organized method for determining which applicant is best suited for the job and can help employers identify talent before their competitors when hiring dental hygienist.
What questions to ask during the interview process for a dental hygienist
What experience do you have with providing comprehensive dental care?
What certifications and licenses do you hold?
Are there any other areas of dentistry that you are knowledgeable about?
How would you describe your communication skills with colleagues and patients?
Tell me a bit about your organizational abilities in the workplace.
Describe how you would interact compassionately and professionally with different patients.
The job outlook for dental hygienists is bright, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics saying the number of dental hygienists is expected to increase by 9 percent between 2021 and 2031.
This is much faster than average for all occupations, making it an attractive option for those seeking a career in healthcare.
Dental hygienists are in demand because they are essential in providing quality patient care. The aging population will likely drive the need for these professionals even higher.
What qualifications and skills are required to become a dental hygienist?
To become a dental hygienist, you must hold an associate’s degree from an accredited dental hygiene program.
Additionally, all states require licensure for practicing dentists, and many states also require certification in CPR and local anesthesia.
Dental hygienists should possess excellent interpersonal skills as they regularly interact with patients.
They should also have strong organizational skills to keep track of patient records, as well as the ability to perform basic math calculations to measure ingredients for dental products.
Finally, an understanding of new technologies and treatments related to dentistry is essential to provide optimal care for patients.
What do dental hygienists typically do?
Dental hygienists provide preventive services such as teeth cleanings, X-rays, applying sealants and fluoride treatments, and educating patients about proper oral hygiene practices.
They may also perform specific clinical procedures such as periodontal assessments, mouth cancer screenings, and root planing (removing bacterial deposits from the teeth).
They need to be up-to-date on the latest developments in their field to provide their patients with the best care possible.
How much does a dental hygienist make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a dental hygienist is $78,110 per year ($37.53 per hour).
The amount can vary depending on experience level, location of employment, type of office setting (private or public), and certifications held.
Generally speaking, however, salaries increase over time with additional experience in the field.
Is it necessary for dental hygienists to attend continuing education courses?
Most states require continuing education (CE) courses for dental hygienists to maintain licensure or certification status.
CE courses cover topics ranging from oral pathology and radiography principles to material science and infection control protocols—all topics necessary for providing proper care following safety standards set by governing bodies like the American Dental Association (ADA).
These courses help foster professional development.
How to hire a dental hygienist?
Hiring a dental hygienist involves several strategic steps to ensure you attract and select the best candidate for the role:
Job Description: Start by crafting a detailed job description outlining the responsibilities, qualifications, and skills needed. This helps potential candidates understand the role and its requirements.
Promotion: Post the job opening on dental industry-specific job boards, your clinic’s website, and on general employment platforms.
Use an ATS: An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can be immensely beneficial. It automates the collection and organization of applications, filters out unqualified candidates based on set criteria, and streamlines the hiring process.
Interviewing: Conduct thorough interviews. This can include initial phone screenings followed by in-person interviews. Consider practical assessments where candidates demonstrate their skills on dummy patients or through simulations.
License and Credential Verification: Ensure the candidate holds a valid license to practice as a dental hygienist. Also, verify any additional certifications or credentials they claim to have.
Background Check: Perform a background check to verify the candidate’s history, ensuring there are no issues that might be of concern.
Onboarding: Once hired, provide a structured onboarding process to familiarize the new hygienist with your clinic’s procedures, equipment, and team.
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