Dental Hygienist

Job Description

Job Description

Join the Beachwood Dental family where your passion for dental care is celebrated! We're seeking a dedicated dental hygienist to join our compassionate team and make a difference in our patients' oral health journeys. We cherish each team member and believe in recognizing their hard work. Our culture revolves around teamwork, where every day feels like a collaborative effort towards excellence. We're committed to creating an environment where you can not only excel in your role but also enjoy coming to work every day. If you're ready to be part of a supportive team where your contributions are valued, apply now and let's make a difference together!

POSITION SUMMARY

With gum disease rampant, the RDH is in a special position to provide our patients the most important health service we can - prevention of disease.  You provide the practice a philosophical backdrop for ongoing care through patient education and reinforcement of the doctor's treatment plan.  You are, as well, a communicator between patient and doctor, and key to the development of good patient relations. You work to calibrate your treatment ideology with that of the doctor’s.

The Hygienist will implement a hygiene program that reflects the importance of timely recalls and optimal treatment of periodontal disease.  This approach to preventive and therapy care is in the patients' — and the practice's — best interest, at a time when periodontal disease is becoming the most troublesome and prevalent oral disorder in our population.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

Must be able to meet the physical requirements and demands of an active position, including but not limited to: extended durations of standing, walking, stooping, bending and sitting; manual dexterity; good eye-hand coordination; visual abilities (depth perception, ocular focus, close vision, color vision, and peripheral vision), and adequate hearing to perform daily work. 

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Must have a valid hygiene license for this state (RDH)

Must have current CPR card and first aid experience

X-ray certification

Anesthesia certification

OSHA Training

COMPETENCIES

Exceptional human relations and communication skills

Ability to treat patients of all ages

Ability to handle conflict and get along with people

Ability to maintain outgoing, friendly attitude with patients and staff even under pressure

Ability to speak, understand and write fluent and grammatically correct English

Knowledge of organizational filing procedures and systems

Ability to work unsupervised

SKILLS 

Facilitation and problem solving skills to develop a hygiene department that performs quality care in a comfortable, non-threatening environment. 

Leadership skills to encourage clinical adeptness, teamwork and communication with patients

Presentation skills to develop preventive attitudes and knowledge in every patient 

Professionalism, discretion, integrity, honesty, and dedication

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Patient Management 

• Takes initiative to seat patients at the appropriate time and help to keep the doctor on schedule
• Effectively manages own time and workspace
• Checks on patient comfort during treatment and helps to dispel patient anxiety
• Communicates with patients in an understandable and professional way about their treatment needs and recommendations
• Understands professional conduct with patients
• Reviews daily schedule in preparation for the huddle for outstanding treatment and recommendations needed to discuss with patients and for any issues or concerns that can be dealt with to improve schedule flow, treatment acceptance, and patient care
• Schedules patients for their next appointment
• Reviews patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary
• Accurately charts each patient’s periodontal health
• Evaluates the periodontal status of every patient and communicates concerns on any level with the doctor
• Performs thorough and gentle prophylaxis, scaling, root planing and polishing for patients as appropriate
• Administers local anesthetic
• Takes diagnostic quality radiographs of patients as prescribed by doctor following practice protocol for standard of care
• Applies cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides 
• Accurately and appropriately records provided treatment and recommended treatment per practice protocol
• Provides nutritional therapy and/or oral instructions as it relates to tissue management
• Educates patients on the benefits of ideal periodontal health and offer encouragement to motivate patients to remain or get healthy
• Converts prior “prophy” patterns to ideal treatment whenever necessary
• Promotes ideal dentistry by discovering areas of concern and documents and communicates these to the doctor
• Discusses previously diagnosed treatment that remains incomplete with patients and builds value for the doctor’s recommendations for care
• Provides the doctor with patient information using the “hand-off” approach
• Utilizes the intra-oral camera to educate patients on oral health and the need for restorative care
• Performs other tasks assigned by the doctor
• Effectively and clearly communicates with front office team members

Treatment Room Management and Sterilization

• Inspects treatment room for cleanliness and organization
• Checks and turns on treatment room equipment
• Cleans treatment room at the end of the day and turn off equipment
• Reviews, selects and submits orders for patient education materials for the practice
• Submits supply orders to the DA as necessary
• Follows OSHA and infection control procedures for room cleanliness
• Helps with sterilization when time allows
• Stores instruments and trays in appropriate place when time allows
• Maintains equipment including keeping instruments sharp 

Records Management

• Handles patient records in compliance with office policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, such as HIPAA regulations
• Accurately records medical and dental histories
• Maintains and oversees laser regulations involving office training, record keeping, and laser calibration as outlined in state regulations

Office Participation

• Works as a unit with doctor toward practice growth as it pertains to hygiene department, treatment acceptance, and team morale
• Is a good example to patients and coworkers and maintain high standards and best intentions 
• Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, doctor and coworkers
• Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff
• Is an active participant in team meetings
• Adheres to practice philosophy for No Gossip rule
• Promotes team concept by interacting with others in the office
• Promotes the practice with enthusiasm and represents the practice philosophy for patient care and teamwork
• Cheerfully and without hesitation assist other departments and performs back up duties as needed and/or requested
• Participates in team-related / office-related events and activities that encourage practice growth