Hygienist

Job Title:  Dental Hygienist

Job Code:  HYGIEN

Department:  Dental

Division:  Operations

Salary Level:  Exempt 4

Reports to:  Dental Hygiene Supervisor

Last Revised:  September 2021

Primary Function

The purpose of this position is to serve as Dental Hygienist to provide dental hygiene services to the designated population. The purpose of the work is to perform the necessary dental hygiene treatment in an efficient and professional manner, meeting the diverse health and social needs of the patient population. The Dental Hygienist will perform all aspects of dental hygiene including dental prophylaxis on adult and pediatric patients as well as scaling/root planning on patients with periodontal disease in all stages. The Dental Hygienist shall work in conjunction with the Dentists to take quality x-rays and assist the Dentist with periodic, comprehensive and limited exams. The Dental Hygienist shall take accurate periodontal measurements on patients and record appropriately to facilitate proper diagnosis of patient’s periodontal conditions by the Dentist. The Dental Hygienist will document clinical observations and treatment as well as adhere to industry standards and ensure proper compliance with federal, local and state laws. Emphasis shall be placed on implementing a preventive dental health program to include oral health and hygiene education, dental screening and fluoride varnish application, providing preventive care, providing definitive treatment, and following treatment provided. The Dental Hygienist shall be expected to utilize the current data tracking system to track, recall, and evaluate services based on individual patient need and caries risk recalls in accordance with ADA, IHS and public health guidelines. The ideal Dental Hygienist for this position will have exceptional technical skills as well as the ability to connect with patients to provide caring treatment within the mission of the CIHA.

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Under the general supervision of staff dentists, administers oral prophylactic and dental hygiene treatments to patients presenting with a variety of periodontal conditions including localized or generalized gingivitis and/or localized or generalized mild/moderate/severe periodontal disease. Dental hygiene treatments performed include dental prophylaxis and/or scaling/root planning as well as exposing x-rays when ordered by a Dentist and assisting with recording conditions and treatment recommendations during periodic and comprehensive exams by the Dentist.
• Performs additional procedures such as: records medical and dental histories, reviews patient's dietary habits, administers caries prevention agents, desensitizes root surfaces, root planning, takes and pours impressions for study casts, removes sutures, and instructs the patients in home care therapy and proper diet as it relates to oral health.
• Coordinates hygiene recalls based on low, moderate and high caries-risk patients in accordance with IHS and public health guidelines as well as the patient’s oral hygiene status.
• Plans, coordinates, conducts and evaluates preventive oral health programs for various patient groups such as diabetic, prenatal, cancer, psychiatric, geriatric, alcoholic, and physically handicapped patients.
• Develops and revises oral health instructional materials and education techniques for various levels of the mental and physical capabilities of each patient group.
• Using resources available within CIHA and materials acquired from research, professional dental associations and schools of dental hygiene, develops and presents oral health lectures, demonstrations, and visual displays to patient groups, CIHA staff and clinic personnel.
• Provides in-service training, as needed to dental and non-dental personnel within the clinic and for other hospital clinics.
• Provides dental hygiene services in community based programs.
• Develops procedural instructions to be used by dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental aids, dietitians and nutritionists, and the nursing staff in the delivery of oral health care to patients throughout the hospital and other CIHA properties.
• Regularly attends clinic and dental staff meetings to make improvements in the oral hygiene program.
• Develops, documents and implements dental hygiene policies and procedures.
• Evaluates dental hygiene policies and procedures on a yearly regular basis and proposes revisions as needed. 
• Interprets dental hygiene program policies and procedures and applicable Medicaid and NC state dental hygiene laws and regulations for staff. 
• Ensure that all pertinent policies are being followed, including those relating to safety and infection control.
• Responsible for dental hygiene Quality Assessment and strategic planning (long and short term).
• Supports the mission, vision, strategic plan and goals of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority.
• Management reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business needs arise.

Education/Experience

• Must be a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene program with a degree in dental hygiene.
• Must have current license to practice dental hygiene in North Carolina.
• The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain all certification and education requirements to annually renew their NC dental hygiene license.
• Meeting qualification as a Public Health Hygienist in the state of NC will increase the value of this employee to the CIHA Dental clinic.
• Experience in planning and implementing dental health programs preferred.
• Must have three months experience to become proficient.

Job Knowledge

• Knowledge of the dental hygiene sciences including the principles, practices, and procedures of dental hygiene to conduct and coordinate preventive dental health activities, perform specialized oral hygiene care, and develop instructional material and guidelines for standardizing the delivery of preventive care.
• Knowledge of the clinic's medical and dental services, the characteristics and needs of the patient population, and the resources available in order to develop and carry out the preventive dentistry program.
• Skill in planning and presenting dental hygiene lectures, demonstrations, and instruction using knowledge of dental hygiene sciences and practices including effective techniques of motivation and behavior change.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques in developing and disseminating dental health education information to the public.
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to utilize various computer programs.
• Knowledge of OSHA, CDC, EPA and state regulations in order to insure safety for self and others.

Complexity of Duties

Deals with situations, which can be varied, complex or routine. Duties require planning, problem solving, resourcefulness, and analysis of circumstances. Must use judgment and initiative to maintain accuracy and complete task efficiently. Ingenuity and judgment arc required to review facts, plan work, deal with facts not easily evaluated, interpret results, draw conclusions and take or recommend action.

Supervision Received

Supervised by the Hygiene Supervisor. The dental hygienist will work under direct supervision of a dentist in providing care and indirect supervision of a dentist while performing preventive services (dental screening and fluoride varnish) for pre-school and elementary children and in the community.

Responsibility for Accuracy

Requires high degree of accuracy in reporting abnormalities to the patient’s primary Dentist and in the documentation of services provided. Undetected errors could have minimal results.  Government regulations, compliance with grants, and third party payers require the submitting of accurate patient information to allow for appropriate reimbursement for patient visits. The submission of false or inaccurate information would place the agency at risk for fraudulent claims, resulting in loss of agency certification, and placing the hygienist’s professional license in jeopardy.  Public health dental hygienist must maintain all OSHA, CDC, EPA and state regulations while performing services. Guidelines pertaining to most intra-oral procedures are fairly specific. Written guidelines of the HIS Oral Health Program Guide, HIS Clinical Specialties in Dentistry guide, professional texts, publications, and releases. A copy of this document is available on-line at http.doh.ihs.gov. Independent judgement is required in working with individual patients.

Contact with Others

Contacts are with patients (which include children, adolescents, adult and geriatric populations), parents/guardians/care givers, community representatives and employees of the facility. Contacts with patients and parents/guardians/care givers are for the purpose of education, screening, preventive services (i.e. oral health instruction), and dental treatment (including informed consent and post-operative instructions). Contacts with community representatives are for the purpose of education and program planning appropriate to the community being served. Contacts with other employees are to exchange information and allow for the efficient management of the program.

CIHA physicians, mid-level providers, dentists and nursing staff may deliver care in a variety of settings including those outside of the facility. Those setting may include but are not limited to community health fairs, community events, school sporting events, nursing homes, tribal jails, paGenPs homes, etc. The services provided will be clearly directed and supported by CIHA.

Confidential Data

Must adhere to all tribal guidelines, EBCI and CIHA policies and procedures for working with confidential data. An above average degree of discretion is required while handling patient and related medical information. Maintains confidentiality of all administrative, medical and personnel records, and all other pertinent information that come to his/her attention of knowledge. Violation of such confidentiality shall be cause for adverse action. The Privacy Act of 1974 and HIPPA Laws carry both civil and criminal penalties for unlawful disclosure of information.

Mental/Visual/Physical 

Job duties can be mentally/emotionally stressful at times.  Ability to effectively deal with stress, the stress involved in treatment of appropriate or uncooperative patients must also be considered.  Close mental concentration and attention to detail are required for most duties.   Must have visual acuity, manual dexterity, and the ability to speak and hear.  Long periods of sitting, e\walking, standing, and bending are necessary. May occasionally move more than 15 pounds. 

Work Environment

Work involves exposure to communicable diseases. Employee must be familiar with and comply with NC Statutes relating to dental practice and federal and state regulations pertaining to occupational safety and health, infection control, and EPA standards. Employee has been trained and expected to comply with all regulations controlling the practice of dental hygiene and public health dentistry in this state. May be necessary to work when Administrative Leave is granted if patient care is compromised.

Customer Service

Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills to patients/customers by demonstrating characteristics that align with CIHA’s guiding principles and core values. Ensure excellent customer service is provided to all patients/customers by seeking out opportunities to be of service.