Public Health Dental Hygienist

Title: Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Department: Dental

Status: Hourly
Location: Assigned Locations
Reports To: Dental Director/Clinical Supervisor
Direct Reports: None
Summary of Position
An RDH must be able to perform all the minimum qualifications of the RDH job descriptions. The role of the RDH is a nonexempt position responsible for performing a variety of duties related to dental patient care directed by dental provider(s). Must be able to assist in the prevention and treatment of oral disease, focusing on periodontal health by monitoring oral hygiene practices and assisting the patient to develop a home care plan to maintain their oral health. As well as performing scaling and polishing, hygienists can give specific advice on prevention, nutrition, use of fluoride and smoking cessation.
Education: Graduated from an ADA-accredited dental hygiene program
Experience: Minimum one years' experience, preferably in public health setting.
Professional Licensure: Verification of a current license from the NC Dental Board
Minimum Qualifications: Must be able to provide daily direction and communication to employees so that referrals are processed and followed-up on in a timely, efficient and knowledgeable manner. Must be able to assist in the call center as necessary. Must be available for employees who experience work issues by providing appropriate coaching. Must ensure employees receive appropriate training and necessary resources to perform their jobs adequately. Must effectively communicate with the Customer Care Supervisor at all times.
Additional skills required Ability to read, write and understand the English language. Communicate effectively. Interacts in a friendly, professional manner with a wide range of patients, operations staff, physicians and other departments in a friendly, professional manner. Knowledge of dental office protocols/procedures. Ability to work well under pressure is essential. Ability to communicate and work effectively with the physicians and peers. Ability to learn and retain information regarding patient care procedures. Familiarity with basic computer operations, EDR software. Ability to work successfully with minimum supervision. Hygienists must be able to work seated for several hours at a time to provide clinical services to patients. Frequent movement within the office handling patient flow. Ability to maintain a neat and well-groomed appearance.
Key Responsibilities

• Carefully review patient medical and dental history forms and update as necessary
• Accurately chart each patient's periodontal health
• Provide thorough and gentle prophylaxis to patients
• Perform scaling, root planning, and selective polishing for designated patterns
• Provide radiographs for patients as prescribed by dentist
• Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way
• Take accurate notes on the provided treatment
• Provide patient education sessions and materials to patients
• Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist (making hygiene calls)
• Work with receptionist to schedule hygiene patients with efficiency
• Maintain all continuing education and licensing requirements annually.

1. Patient First - An approach to care that holds primary, the well-being and desires of the patient
2. Build not Blame - Focusing first on finding fault with the process rather than the person
3. Integrity and Honesty - Fostering an acceptance of openness, honesty, and fairness in words, deeds and the use of organizational resources judiciously for both internal and external customers
4. Cooperation and Flexibility - Related to an internal believe that we function as part of an interdependent team with only shared gains or losses thereby committed to assisting whenever possible beyond the prerequisite job description
5. Culturally Sensitive - Always working toward increasing one's ability to understand, communicate with, effectively interact and care for people across cultures, while having an acute awareness of one's own culture.