Performance Expectations

The dental hygienist must…

1. Obtain the patient’s ongoing informed consent for proposed dental hygiene services.
2. Apply appropriate assessment strategies, techniques, tools, and/or indices, considering the patient’s historical and current assessment data (e.g., obtaining and interpreting radiographs as needed). 
3. Detect any findings that are abnormal, atypical, or unhealthy, and inform the patient.
4. Use critical thinking and professional judgment to interpret assessment data, determine a diagnosis and prognosis, and inform the patient.
5. Identify patients for whom the initiation or continuation of dental hygiene services is contraindicated based on interpretation of the patient’s health history and/or clinical data and refer appropriately.
6. Collaborate and communicate effectively with the patient to plan care using a patient-centred approach. This includes involving the patient in prioritizing and sequencing dental hygiene services.
7. Consider all aspects of a patient’s overall health and well-being, including determinants of health and risk factors, when planning and implementing evidence-informed dental hygiene services.
8. Based on the patient’s assessment data and diagnosis, deliver dental hygiene services that are clinically appropriate for the patient and are consistent with the patient’s informed consent.
9. Recognize and manage the patient’s discomfort and/or pain.
10. Monitor and evaluate the patient’s response to dental hygiene services and adjust services, implement alternatives, or discontinue services accordingly.
11. Make clinically appropriate referrals when the patient’s needs for assessment, diagnosis or treatment are best addressed in collaboration with or by another health professional.

Patient Expectations

The patient can expect the dental hygienist to assess relevant data, make an informed diagnosis, partner with the patient to develop and implement patient-centred goals and plans, and evaluate dental hygiene services.