Dental Hygienist

Summary of Position

An RDH must be able to meet all the minimum qualifications required for the RDH job description. The role of the RDH is a nonexempt position, and the RDH is responsible for performing various duties related to dental patient care directed by dental provider(s). Must be able to assist in preventing and treating oral disease, focusing on periodontal health by monitoring oral hygiene practices and assisting the patient in developing a home care plan to maintain their oral health. In addition to performing scaling and polishing, hygienists can give specific advice on prevention, nutrition, fluoride use, and smoking cessation.

Education: Graduated from an ADA-accredited dental hygiene program

Experience: Minimum one year’s experience, preferably in a 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. They must be available to employees who experience work issues by providing appropriate coaching. Employees must ensure they receive appropriate training and the 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 physicians and peers. Ability to learn and retain information regarding patient care procedures. Familiarity with basic computer operations and 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

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

Kintegra Health Core Requirements

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.