What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dental Hygienist Part Time position at Geisinger?
- Performs external and internal oral evaluations and records comprehensive periodontal and restorative dental charting.
- Performs prophylactic treatment and provides services that may involve placement of sub-gingival agents, periodontal probing, scaling (manually or mechanically to remove subgingival and supragingival plaque, calculus or stains), root planning, and full mouth debridement.
- May administer pain control agents such as topical anesthetic, Oraquix and and or local anesthesia (in accordance with 5, relating to local anesthesia permit).
- Applies caries preventative agents including topical fluoride trays and varnish, dental sealants, desensitizing agents to root surfaces, and places temporary restorations when necessary.
- Exposes and processes dental radiographs.
- Provides patient education and home care protocols by discussing and demonstrating homecare techniques and products for patient use as part of an individualized self-care program.
- May include the importance of good nutrition and tobacco cessation in maintaining optimal oral health.
- Completes new medical questionnaire annually.
- Updates and reviews medical health history and completes all electronic medical record screenings at every dental visit.
- Cleans and sterilizes instruments and disinfects dental equipment and operatory.
- Maintains responsibility for general operatory and clinic maintenance, as well as monitors expiration dates on supplies.
- Maintains current professional license and technical skills with continuing education and mandatory in-house training programs and performance improvement activities as applicable.
- Attends and participates in appropriate monthly meetings.
- When time permits, monitors their own schedules and communicates with scheduling pod to ensure cancellations and open slots are filled.
- Assists in other areas as appropriate and as time permits.
- Reply to patient questions and concerns.
Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.
