DENTAL HYGIENIST

Dental Hygienist

The Dental Hygienist is responsible for delivering direct dental care and associated services to patients under the clinical supervision of the dentist and the Medical Director. They will utilize established dental hygiene protocols and procedures.

Administrative Duties:

• Record, prepare and maintain patient chart information into Dentrix, and other data systems and/or patient records as required.
• Ensure patient documentation is fully complete.
• Ensure procedures are documented accurately on superbills/billing sheets, and patient record (hardcopy and electronic-Dentrix) for proper payment.

Clinical Duties:

• Deliver direct dental care to patients assigned.
• Assess patient dental conditions and needs by reviewing medical/dental history.
• Record and report pertinent observations as it relates to patient's oral healthcare.
• Record dental history or chief complaint in agency data system (i.e. Dentrix).
• Assist with taking and recording patient vitals at every visit.
• Perform various dental procedures (i.e. prophylaxis, radiographs, topical anesthesia, topical fluoride treatment application, placement of pit and tissue sealants, placement of perio dressings, removal of perio dressings, and suture removal).
• Prepare and make impressions of patients' teeth for study casts when required.
• Assist the dentist with discharge planning of patients.
• Perform scaling and root planning, soft tissue curettage, and study case impressions.
• Assist with the development and implementation of individualized dental care plans.
• Provide and document patient education (i.e. oral health, smoking cessation, and nutrition).
• Assist dentists with performing specialized tests, procedures, and complex treatments.
• Perform periodontal probing on patients as needed.

Quality Assurance/Compliance Duties:

• Ensure that dental operations fully comply with Agency and HIPAA requirements.
• Participate in quality assurance activities for compliance.
• Ensure that online training is current as required (Netsmart and other training courses).
• Participate in agency developmental activities as requested.

Safety:

• Maintain agency guidelines relating to safety, outreach, and confidentiality.
• Ensure proper hand washing according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
• Document patient medications correctly.
• Make sure each patient knows which medicines to take when they are at home and encourage each patient to bring their up-to-date list of medications every time they visit the doctor.
• Ensure each new client receives screening for their risk of suicide.
• Understand and appropriately act upon assigned role in Emergency Code System.
• Understand and perform assigned role in Agency Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

Culture of Service:

• Compassion: Greets internal or external customers (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) with courtesy, making eye contact, responding with a proper tone and nonverbal language.
• Listens to the internal or external customer (i.e. patient, client, staff, vendor) attentively, reassuring and understanding of the request and providing appropriate options or resolutions.
• Competency: Provides services required by following established protocols and when needed, procure additional help to answer questions to ensure appropriate services are delivered.
• Commitment: Takes initiative and anticipates internal or external customer needs by engaging them in the process and following up as needed.

Contact Responsibility: The responsibility for internal and external contacts is frequent and important.

Education: Bachelors degree in related field is required. Florida State License as Registered Dental Hygienist is required. Biomedical Waste and OSHA certifications are required. BLS certificate is required.

Experience: Training and Experience: At least (2) two years of experience in clinical work with HIV-infected persons are required.

Physical Requirements: This work requires the following physical activities: constant sitting, standing, talking in person, talking on the phone, hearing/ visual acuity and exposure to blood borne pathogens. Frequent walking and occasional bending, stretching and reaching may be required. Work is performed in office and medical settings.

Other: Participates in health center developmental activities as requested. Other duties as assigned.