Registered Dental Hygienist

Job Description

Job Description

Are you ready to step away from the DSO model and work in a practice where patient care, not production and corporate metrics, is the priority?

We are a small, privately owned dental practice under new doctor ownership, and we're looking for an experienced, kind, and thoughtful hygienist to join our growing team. We are open to both full-time and part-time candidates.

Our practice is committed to evidence-based dentistry and creating an exceptional patient experience. As a fee-for-service practice, we're able to focus on providing the highest level of care without the constraints of insurance-driven production goals.

Located on Milwaukee's Upper East Side, our modern, fresh office provides a comfortable and positive environment in which to practice. We offer family-friendly hours with no weekends , competitive compensation starting at $60/hr, and benefits including a 401(k) with employer match, paid holidays, and paid vacation .

If you're looking for a practice where you can take pride in the care you provide, build meaningful relationships with your patients, and work alongside a thoughtful and supportive team, we'd love to hear from you.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The hygienist is the conductor of the office's continuing care program. The hygienist will work within the parameters set by the doctor and will develop a hygiene program for our patients that strives to help them understand and become proficient at practicing preventive dentistry. This means not only understanding periodontal disease and treating it effectively, but also taking diagnostic x-rays as necessary, and providing essential education regarding oral hygiene and overall dental health.

• Have a passion for excellence in the area of dental hygiene, and the skills to treat periodontal disease effectively while at the same time making the appointment comfortable for the patient
• Relationship building skills with both staff and patients
• Knowledge of practice management software as it pertains to hygiene, treatment planning, and the ability to convey information to the front office accurately and in ways that will help them motivate the patient for excellent dental care
• Teamwork and leadership skills
• Ability to market the practice
• Excellent verbal skills with patients and staff
• Excellent organizational skills and effectively minimizing patient time to get as much done as possible
• Teaching skills in regard to x-ray, computer, and other areas that are important to the hygiene department
• Excellent eye-hand coordination skills
• A full understanding of existing and emerging technologies that support ideal care
• Overall understanding of prosthetics, cosmetic and functional dentistry concepts and the ability to help patients understand why they need to have this work done

KEY GOALS/BENCHMARKS OF ROLE

• Daily, monthly, and yearly office and hygiene production goals achieved
• Scheduled Recare Efficiency

RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Specific

• Seat the patient and have the proper setup ready for the procedure.
• Check the patient's progress and record the results on the patient's chart including: previous incomplete treatment plans, oral cancer exam, TMJ exam, occlusal classification, comprehensive periodontal exam and diagnosis.
• Take digital radiographs including vertical and horizontal bitewings, periapicals, full-mouth series, panoramic x-rays and CBCT.

• Take intraoral photographs to complete records and aid in treatment planning along with intraoral scanning.
• Scale, polish, and apply fluoride.
• Root planing as appropriate treatment choice.

• Maintain the appearance, disinfection, and function of the hygiene treatment room, sterilization area, instruments, and trays.
• Sterilize, oil and sharpen the hygiene instruments, hand piece, and any doctor instruments.
• Continuously participate in CE to advance clinical/technology skills.
• Send consent forms to patients on weave the day before appointment
• Call patients in schedule that are late or have not confirmed
• Follow housekeeping checklists as far as laundry, and garbage days
• Attend and participate in huddles and monthly meeting

Practice Management

• Educate the patient as to the quality of their dental health during treatment.
• Instruct patient in: tooth brushing technique, flossing technique, aids and proxy brush, perio aids, disclosing methods, electric toothbrushes and waterjets, oral rinses, anti-caries products, and nutrition.
• Assist the doctor when examining the hygiene patients by informing the doctor about the patient's case with all pertinent information gathered as well as pending or rejected treatment and long-term plans, recording new treatment plans, and notes of all pertinent discussions of treatment recommendations and options given.
• Make sure the patient's record is complete and all services for the day's treatment are recorded in patient's ledger.
• Enter detailed and accurate notes with all the pertinent discussions of treatment recommendations, options, and timeline plans noted in the computer in a joint effort with the doctor when necessary.
• Maintain a full schedule.
• Maintain continuing care supplies and literature.
• Market the practice to patients internally and externally.
• Prepare for patients by reviewing their case to discuss at morning huddle and bring doctor up to speed at their appointment.
• Schedule patient for next hygiene appointment and record reason for return.
• Communicate referral and medical consult information to other offices and patients and follow up on progress of referrals and medical consultation- add clinical note containing this information

Teamwork/Cross-Training

• Assist the doctor in the clinical treatment of patients as time permits.
• Assist the other clinical staff members as time permits.
• Assist with the Continuing Care system as time permits and help to fill no-shows.
• Hand-off the patient to the doctor and to the front desk.

EQUIPMENT USED

Includes but is not limited to:

• Intraoral camera
• X-rays
• Ultrasonic and micro-ultrasonic
• Blood pressure
• Patient education system
• Piezo and Airflow
• Laser
• iTero, TRIOS
• CBCT