Registered Dental Hygienist

Essential Job Functions:

• Provides high-quality dental hygiene care within the scope of service consistent with accepted standards of care;
• Evaluates patients and implements treatment regimens under the general supervision of the Dentist.
• Provides complete documentation of all findings, treatments and outcomes;
• Initiates oral health education and prevention activities;
• Reviews and interprets patient dental records;
• Works cooperatively with other Dental Program staff;
• Helps out where needed to ensure smooth, efficient running of Dental Program; and
• Participates in the ongoing evaluation of Dental Program operations to assure the delivery of high-quality services that support the financial sustainability of the program.

Performance expectations:

• Assesses dental conditions and risk, uses patient screening procedures, including medical history review, dental charting and perio-charting; takes patient vital signs as required;
• Delivers direct patient care to patients as assigned, using established dental hygienist procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, x-rays, application of sealants, fluorides and varnishes and related procedures;
• Develops and implements individualized dental care plans for patients; performs patient education and risk protocols, discharge planning, and patient/family teaching under the supervision of a dentist;
• Provides chair-side assistance to the dentist in the performance of special tests, procedures and complex treatments;
• Makes impressions of patients’ teeth for study casts;
• Documents dental history of chief complaint; records and reports pertinent observations and patient reactions to dental staff, as appropriate; documents lab procedures and ensure follow-up on result
• Assists with or institutes emergency measures for sudden adverse development during treatment of patients;
• Initiates patient care as appropriate for walk-in patients;
• Participates in Quality Improvement activities as requested by the Dentist/Clinical Dental;
• Assists in the preparation of patient care areas, and in the patient admission, transfer and discharge process, as required; prepares reports and assists as required with patient reception, telephone calls, routine triage and other office duties;
• Scans reception room for patients;
• Assumes responsibility for the upkeep of the dental operatory and equipment;
• Performs routine cleaning and maintenance of dental equipment in assigned operatories and for the assigned equipment. Regularly and thoroughly performs maintenance of assigned equipment;
• Uses downtime to clean and restock operatories; and
• Performs miscellaneous duties within the Dental Program as assigned.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures, unpleasant odors and/or loud noises.
• Moderate physical activity. Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds, assisting with patients and standing and/or walking for most of the day.
• Will work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training; and
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.