Navy NEC · Medical
L35A Dental Hygienist
A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.
Overview
A dental hygienist provides comprehensive dental hygiene services under the direction and supervision of a dental officer, including infection control, patient data gathering, assessments, treatment planning, and periodontal care. The hygienist exposes and processes radiographs, provides oral health and nutrition education, cleans removable appliances and prostheses, polishes restorations, and applies sealants, fluorides, and chemotherapeutic agents.
Minimum clearance: Secret
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
Civilian Software & Tools
- Henry Schein Dentrix
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- Dental billing software
- Dental charting software
- Dental clinical records software
- Dental digital radiology software
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
- Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Also Common
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification
What the Work Involves
- Record and review patient medical histories.
- Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
- Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
- Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
- Provide clinical services or health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients or the general public.
Related Occupations
- Dental Assistants
- Surgical Assistants
- Medical Assistants
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: vocational training or an associate degree.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
Report an error on this page