Registered Dental Hygienist

Job Description

Job Description

Job Overview
We are seeking a skilled Dental Hygienist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be passionate about oral health and providing exceptional patient care.

Responsibilities
Direct Patient Care
- Review daily schedule with the Practice Manager/Supervisor for hygiene patients
- Work with Practice Manager/Supervisor to schedule hygiene patients with efficiency
- Review patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary
- Accurately and promptly chart each patient’s dental health
- Perform scaling, root planing and selective polishing for patients as appropriate
- Polish restorations
- Take radiographs of patients as prescribed by dentist
- Apply cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and sealants
- Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist

Patient Interaction
- Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way
- Check on patient comfort during treatment and help allay patient anxiety
- Accurately and appropriately record provided treatment
- Teach proper oral hygiene techniques to patients
- Counsel patients on oral health, including the role of nutrition
- Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist or Practice Manager

Treatment Room Management and Sterilization
- Check treatment room for cleanliness and make necessary changes
- Check and turn on treatment room equipment
- Gather and review patient charts for the day
- Clean treatment room at the end of the day and turn off equipment
- Maintain a supply inventory for hygiene treatment
- Review, select and submit orders for patient education materials for the practice as requested
- Submit supply orders to Practice Manager once a month or as necessary
- Properly discard all disposable items from each visit
- Assemble soiled instruments and place in sterilization area
- Clean treatment room surfaces with disinfectant solution
- Follow and implement all Practice sterilization and disinfectant procedures.
- Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist

Records Management
- Securely store and handle patient records in compliance with office policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, such as HIPAA regulations
- Accurately record medical and dental histories
- Accurately file patient information
- Arrange patient charts
- Assist in the administration of the recall system
- Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist or Practice Manager

Office Participation
- Be an active participant in team meetings
- Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office
- Act in a professional manner at all times
- Work cooperatively with all Practice employees.
- Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists and coworkers
- Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff
- Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist or Practice Manager

Requirements
- Must be licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and meet all Pennsylvania state requirements
- Experience providing prophylaxis and taking x-rays
- Strong knowledge of dental procedures and terminology
- Proficiency in dental software systems like Dentrix or Dentrix Ascend