Dental Hygienist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Dental Hygienist is appointed by and responsible to the Dental Director of the community health center.  The Dental Hygienist is responsible for recommending and implementing general and dental clinical policies and procedures; ensuring continuous quality improvement in all clinical activities; and acting as an integral part of the management team of the health center.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Receives and registers dental patients, preparing dental charts and forms as needed.
• Provides chair side assistance to the dentist as needed.
• Assists other clinic staff in compiling records and information for public health care information.
• Responsible for maintaining the patient “recall” system and mailing “recall” cards at the appropriate time. Document in record that “recall” card was sent.
• Update patient medical history at each “recall” appointment.
• Perform other necessary duties as required by the Clinic Director or dental director to meet the goal of providing primary health care services.
• Clinical Duties
  • Prepares dental charts and forms as needed.
  • Assists in cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of dental instruments and equipment.
  • Assists in maintaining accurate and timely reports and records.
  • Making impressions for diagnostic and opposing models.
  • Removing sutures.
  • Preliminary fitting of chrome crowns and temporary crowns.
  • Removing excess cement from supragingival surfaces by hand instruments.
  • Taking blood pressure, respiration, pulse, and temperature where applicable.
  • Application of topical fluoride.
  • Dietary counseling for caries control.
  • Placement and removal of retraction cord.
  • Seat temporary crowns after examination and approval of the dentist.
  • Root planning and curettage.
  • Polish and contour restorations.
  • Placement and removal of temporary sedative dressings with hand instruments.
  • Induce and monitor nitrous oxide (must have successfully completed certified course).
  • Apply pit and fissure sealants.
  • Periodontal charting.
  • Intra and extra oral of examination of soft tissue.
  • Charting of lesions, restorations, and missing teeth.
  • Expose dental radiographs (periapical and panoramic).
• Ensures an appropriate environment for the administration of healthcare by keeping exam rooms, dental lab, all equipment, and other work areas in a clean, safe, and orderly fashion.
• Attend in house PCMH training.
• Any other job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Licensed and registered as a dental hygienist in the state.
• Sufficient experience to carry out the duties of this position.
• Must be qualified in Basic Life Support techniques.
• Ability to relate with warmth and effectiveness to the patients and to the providers of the community health center.
• Participate in on-going age-related in-service training for patients in various age groups.