All students in dental hygiene must be able to perform these essential functions with or without reasonable accomodations.
| Essential Function |
Technical Standard |
Examples of Activity |
| Critical Thinking |
Critical thinking ability for clinical judgment. |
Identify cause-effect relationships in clinical situation; evaluate patient or disease responses; synthesize data; draw sound conclusions. |
| Interpersonal Skills |
Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals, families, and groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds. |
Establish rapport with patients, colleagues, faculty and other health care providers. Use therapeutic communication (attending, clarifying, coaching). |
| Communication Ability |
Communication abilities sufficient for effective interaction with others in spoken and written English. |
Explain treatment procedures; initiate teaching; document and interpret patient data, listen attentively. |
| Physical Endurance |
Remain continuously on task for several hours while sitting, standing or moving. |
Manually resuscitate patients in emergency situations or sit for extensive periods of time. |
| Mobility |
Physical abilities sufficient to move from clinic area to clinic area and maneuver in small spaces, full range of motion; manual and finger dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. |
Move around in an operatory, workspaces and laboratory areas. |
| Motor Skills |
Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective patient care and operate equipment. |
Use various types of equipment; assist and position patients or lift and operate equipment with necessary strength and dexterity. |
| Hearing Ability |
Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs. |
Hear patient concerns, emergency signals. |
| Visual Ability |
Normal or corrected visual ability sufficient for observation of oral conditions, patient observation and assessment; ability to discriminate between subtle changes in oral conditions and density in radiographs; see in darkroom conditions. |
Observe oral conditions; observe patient/responses, oral secretions, and color. Read chart, computer screen, dials, labels and gauges. |
| Tactile Ability |
Tactile ability sufficient for the use of small instruments with control sufficient with a light touch when instrumenting. |
Perform scaling and root planning; instrument and assess teeth. |
| Olfactory Ability |
Olfactory senses (smell) sufficient for maintaining environment and patient safety; diagnostic tool for oral diseases. |
Distinguish smells, which are contributory to assessing and/or maintaining the patient's health status or environmental safety (fire); distinguishing the smell of oral disease from health. |
| Professional Attitude and Demeanor |
Ability to present professional appearance and implement measures to maintain own physical and mental health, and emotional stability. Ability to demonstrate emotional health required for the utilization of intellectual abilities and exercise good judgment. |
Work under time restraints and stressful conditions. Be exposed to communicable diseases and contaminated body fluids. React calmly in emergency situations. Demonstrate flexibility and teamwork. Show concern for others. |
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