NEC
L35A
Dental Hygienist
A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.
Description
The dental hygienist will have the knowledge and clinical competence required to provide current, comprehensive dental hygiene service under the direction and supervision of a dental officer. Dental hygiene includes but is not limited to: clinical infection control procedures; data gathering; exposing and processing radiographs; dental hygiene assessment/dental hygiene treatment planning; oral health education including health promotion, disease prevention, behavior modification and nutritional counseling; cleaning removable appliances and prostheses; polishing restorations; provision of therapeutic dental hygiene services including, but not limited to, periodontal scaling and root planning; application of pit and fissure sealants and anticariogenic agents (fluorides); application of chemotherapeutic agents; pain control and other patient services as identified by the dental officer; and evaluation of dental hygiene services.
Core Skills
- dental hygiene assessment
- periodontal scaling and root planing
- dental radiography
- oral health education
- dental hygiene treatment planning
- infection control
- fluoride and sealant application
- preventive dentistry counseling
- dental patient documentation
Common Certifications
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
- Certified Dental Hygienist (CDH)
- Local Anesthesia Certification for Dental Hygienists
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification
- CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
- Radiation Health and Safety Certificate
Civilian Career Paths
- DENTAL
- PUBLIC HEALTH
- CLINICAL TECHNICIAN
Training & Development
Getting Started
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
- Radiation Health and Safety Certificate
- CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
- Local Anesthesia Certification for Dental Hygienists
Career Growth
- Certified Dental Hygienist (CDH)
- Expanded Functions Dental Hygienist Certification
- Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist
- Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia Instructor Certification
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.