Registered Dental Hygienist

NHSC-approved site (clinicians here can apply for NHSC Loan Repayment) · dental HPSA score 25 · Federally Qualified Health Center

JOB SUMMARY : Performs professional dental care in the field of dental hygiene including all related clinical procedures. Has broad responsibilities for clinical and community dental health education activities. This position reports to the Dental Director.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :

• Ability to provide oral health assessment, dental prophylaxis including scaling and root planning, and oral hygiene instruction.

• Takes radiographs on patients including bitewing, periapical, occlusal, and panoramic X-ray.

• Performs gross debridement in treatment of acute and chronic periodontal conditions.

• Instructs patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing and flossing techniques, and periodontal aids, which increase the amount of stimulation to the teeth.

• Plans and adapts instructions in home care techniques, tailoring them to the oral hygiene needs and oral problems of individual patients.

• Explains to patients the causes of periodontal disease and tooth decay, and the importance of diet as it relates to oral and systemic health. • Performs duties where qualified, as delegated by dentist and governed by state law.

• Responsible for the cleaning and sterilization of instruments and disinfecting equipment and work areas.

• Safeguards all patients’ health information whether written, verbal, and electronic with privacy and confidentiality.

• Follow all HIPAA Privacy and Security policies and procedures.

• Follows all applicable National Patient Safety Goals in the provision of patient care.

• Assists the rest of the dental team in expediting patient care.

• Attends and participates in program and facility committees as required.

• In collaboration with the Dental Director and Spectra Health key management, establish priorities, goals, and objectives for the dental program.

• Performs other duties as assigned which are appropriate for position quality care improvement, and program requirements.

EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of basic dental terminology and recordkeeping procedures.

• Knowledge of the instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures.

• Knowledge of the use, care and storage of dental equipment, materials and instruments

• Knowledge of latest and most recent sterilization and infection control techniques.

• Knowledge of oral anatomy, oral physiology and histology, the principles and techniques of preventive dentistry, and the dental instruments and materials to perform a variety of specialized prophylactic and preventive dental hygiene procedures including root planning and curettage.

• Knowledge of oral pathology and periodontology sufficient to recognize a variety of abnormal conditions such as acute gingivitis, periodontitis, and deep periodontal pockets, and provide the necessary prophylactic and therapeutic and dental hygiene treatment.

• Knowledge of medical diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease as they relate to the care and treatment of the teeth in order to perform bedside prophylaxis and provide therapeutic dental hygiene procedures and home care instruction to patients.

Required:

· Graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.

· Licensure in North Dakota.

Preferred:

· Two years’ experience in dental hygiene preferred

· Experience working in a health center environment