Which responsibility falls under the dental hygienist’s professional duties?

Providing knowledge of dental hygiene statutes is a significant responsibility that falls under the professional duties of a dental hygienist. Dental hygienists play a crucial role in ensuring that patients are informed about the laws and regulations that govern dental hygiene practices. This includes understanding the scope of practice, ethical considerations, and specific regulations that vary by state. By educating patients about these statutes, dental hygienists help promote awareness and compliance, which is essential for the safety and efficacy of dental care.

In contrast, managing the dental clinic's marketing strategy is generally outside the scope of a dental hygienist's professional duties, as this task typically aligns more with administrative roles or marketing professionals. Setting treatment fees is also not a responsibility of the dental hygienist; instead, fees are typically determined by the dental practice's management or the dentist. While dental hygienists often work alongside dental assistants, their role does not typically include supervising them unless they hold a specific supervisory position, which is not universally applicable to all dental hygienists.