Hygiene Assistant

Lightwave Dental•Richmond, VA

25d•$16 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The Hygiene Assistant supports the hygienist, doctor, and clinical team by assisting with patient flow, room preparation, sterilization, radiographs, charting support, clinical documentation support, patient education reinforcement, and other duties that help create an efficient and high-quality hygiene experience. This role is designed to support an accelerated hygiene model by allowing the hygienist to focus on direct patient care while the Hygiene Assistant helps prepare, organize, turn over, and maintain the hygiene operatory and clinical workflow. The Hygiene Assistant plays an important role in ensuring patients are seated on time, clinical records and imaging are prepared, rooms are properly disinfected, instruments are sterilized, and the hygiene schedule runs efficiently and safely. The Hygiene Assistant must follow all office protocols, OSHA standards, HIPAA requirements, infection control guidelines, radiation safety requirements, and practice standards of care.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Dental assistant certification where required by state law or practice policy
X-ray certification, if required to expose radiographs
Current CPR/BLS certification
Completion of required OSHA, HIPAA, infection control, and safety training
Ability to follow clinical protocols, infection control standards, and office procedures
Strong attention to detail and organization
Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced clinical environment
Professional communication skills and a team-focused attitude

Nice To Haves

Prior dental assisting or hygiene assisting experience
Experience supporting accelerated hygiene workflows
Experience with digital radiographs, intraoral cameras, iTero scanning, or digital intraoral scanning
Experience with dental practice management software
Nitrous oxide certification, where applicable and permitted
Strong understanding of sterilization, room turnover, and clinical supply organization

Responsibilities

Assist the hygienist with clinical and administrative duties before, during, and after hygiene appointments.
Prepare patients for hygiene procedures, examinations, radiographs, periodontal charting, iTero scans, and provider exams as directed.
Seat patients, review basic appointment needs, update patient information as directed, and notify the hygienist when the patient is ready.
Assist with periodontal charting by accurately recording measurements and findings as dictated by the hygienist or doctor.
Assist with patient education by reinforcing hygienist and doctor recommendations, including home care instructions, fluoride, periodontal therapy, re-care intervals, Invisalign, nightguards, or other recommended services as directed.
Support the hygienist with provider handoffs by ensuring radiographs, scans, periodontal charting, notes, and clinical findings are available for doctor review.
Assist with maintaining schedule flow by anticipating the needs of the hygienist, preparing the next patient, and communicating delays or concerns to the appropriate team members.
Take diagnostic-quality radiographs as allowed by certification, state regulations, doctor direction, and office protocol.
Ensure radiographs are properly exposed, positioned, labeled, mounted, saved, and available for hygienist and doctor review.
Take bitewings, periapicals, panoramic images, and other required images according to office protocols and patient needs.
Complete iTero scans or digital intraoral scans when trained and directed by the hygienist, doctor, or office protocol.
Take intraoral photos or other diagnostic images as directed to support patient education, documentation, and treatment planning.
Communicate any imaging concerns, errors, or retake needs promptly to the hygienist or doctor.
Prepare, clean, disinfect, and turn over hygiene operatories according to OSHA, CDC, state, and office infection control standards.
Sterilize and disinfect instruments according to practice protocol, including proper transport, cleaning, packaging, labeling, sterilization, storage, and documentation.
Set up instrument trays, hygiene cassettes, disposable barriers, materials, and supplies needed for hygiene appointments.
Maintain sterilization areas in a clean, organized, safe, and compliant manner.
Monitor and report sterilization concerns, equipment issues, supply shortages, or broken instruments to the appropriate team member or manager.
Support the entire clinical team with sterilization duties as needed to maintain patient flow and infection control compliance.
Prepare hygiene rooms before each appointment with the correct instruments, materials, disposables, PPE, and equipment.
Ensure operatories are clean, stocked, organized, and ready for patient care.
Turn over rooms efficiently between patients while maintaining infection control standards.
Help maintain the flow of the hygiene schedule by preparing the next patient, checking appointment needs, setting up required supplies, and supporting timely provider exams.
Assist with seating patients, escorting patients, updating the team on patient readiness, and supporting transitions between hygiene, doctor exam, treatment coordination, and checkout.
Support the practice with emergency, limited, or overflow needs when appropriate and directed by leadership.
Assist the hygienist with charting, documentation, and clinical record preparation as directed and within office protocol.
Confirm that radiographs, scans, periodontal charting, intraoral photos, medical alerts, and appointment notes are available for provider review.
Support accurate documentation of services completed, patient education provided, treatment recommendations, re-care needs, and follow-up items as directed by the hygienist or doctor.
Assist with re-care, scheduling communication, pending treatment awareness, and patient handoff details as needed.
Maintain confidentiality of all patient information in accordance with HIPAA guidelines and office policies.
Work collaboratively with hygienists, doctors, dental assistants, front office team members, practice managers, and regional leadership.
Assist with reasonable tasks requested by the hygienist, doctor, practice manager, or other members of leadership to support patient care and practice operations.
Support the clinical team with sterilization, room turnover, radiographs, iTero scans, patient seating, patient flow, supply stocking, documentation support, and other duties as needed.
Maintain a positive, flexible, team-oriented attitude and contribute to a respectful and efficient work environment.
Participate in huddles, team meetings, training, coaching, and continuing education as requested.
Follow all OSHA, HIPAA, infection control, radiation safety, and practice compliance requirements.
Maintain annual OSHA, HIPAA, BLS/CPR, infection control, and any other required training as required by law or practice policy.
Use proper personal protective equipment and follow universal precautions at all times.
Maintain patient confidentiality and professionalism in all communication.
Follow office protocols, standard of care expectations, and directions from the doctor, hygienist, practice manager, and leadership team.
Report safety concerns, compliance concerns, equipment issues, patient concerns, or workflow barriers promptly.