Are there any specific physical requirements necessary to perform dental hygiene functions?

Yes. A dental hygienist must have use of both hands, dexterity in the fingers and tactile sensitivity to manipulate dental instruments, materials, dental handpieces, and operate dental equipment. The use of feet is necessary to manipulate rheostat for handpieces and other adjunct dental equipment. The body must be able to work from dental operator stool in order to perform dental hygiene procedures. The ability to sit and stand for a duration of time is also necessary. Other specific requirements include color discrimination (differentiation of various shades of color and gradations from black to white); manual dexterity/motor coordination (discern changes in surface textures by manipulating dental instruments, control exertion of hand/finger pressure); hand-eye coordination (transfer of visual input into motor output); physical communications (perceive sound through telephone, hear commands through operators face mask, discern blood pressure sounds); visual acuity (identify the ...