Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist

The North Central Health District (NCHD) is seeking a Dental Hygienist to work full-time at the HOPE Center Dental Clinic. The Hope Center provides medical care, dental services, and case management to Ryan White Program clients. It also includes a housing program, COMPASS Pharmacy, and transportation services to appointments. The Dental Clinic is new, so this is an exciting opportunity to be involved with the clinic from its beginning. This is a grant-funded position and subject to available grant funds. This position includes a $5,000 hiring supplement.

*The hiring supplement will be awarded upon successful completion of the probationary period and is subject to the terms and conditions of the hiring supplement agreement.

Under broad supervision, cleans teeth, examine head, neck and oral areas for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop X-rays or apply fluoride or dental sealants. This position requires vision, systematic thinking and independent judgment. Areas of responsibilities will include time management, planning, implementation and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the dental clinic. This will involve frequent interactions with the community, patients, providers, staff, etc. May serve as a lead worker when dentist is not on-site.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs dental preventative therapies.
• Cleaning, Scaling and root planning of teeth and gums.
• Identify infections, diseases, and injuries of the mouth and teeth as appropriate.
• Applies topical fluoride and dental sealants.
• Provides consultation and referral as required/needed.
• Records procedures and services rendered in EMR system.
• Conduct dental assessments and evaluations for oral pathology.
• Assists dentist in management of medical and dental emergencies.
• Clean and polishes removable appliances.
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Instruct clients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
• Prepare patients, sterilize and disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, and assist dentist during dental procedures.
• Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
• Records treatment information in client records.
• Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of clients.
• May train other staff in proper procedures of day-to-day operations.
• Attend educational courses, training and seminars to remain current in the dental field relating to the most recent practices and protocols.
• Perform additional professional responsibilities as assigned.

Associate degree in dental hygiene from an accredited college or university and current Georgia dental hygienist license and two (2) years of job-related experience; or one (1) year experience at the lower-level Dental Hygienist 2 (HCT011) or position equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of dental hygiene practices, clinical procedures, and terminology.
• Strong clinical proficiency in utilizing dental hygiene instruments and equipment effectively.
• Experience providing patient-centered care, including oral hygiene education, tobacco cessation counseling, and promoting overall oral health awareness.