Dental Hygienist

Description

JOB SUMMARY

The dental hygienist, assuming professional responsibility, delivers care focusing on the prevention of dental problems and the maintenance of current dental health. Promoting dental health, the dental hygienist teaches clients methods of self-care and prevention. The dental hygienist gives fluoride treatments, applies sealant, and gives oral hygiene education, under the supervision of the dentist, aiding patients in achieving and maintaining good dental health. The hygienist exams the mouth as well as cleaning, scaling, polishing the teeth. The hygienist takes x-rays of the teeth when needed.

The dental hygienist is a professional hygienist who is currently licensed to practice in the State of Vermont and meets the requirements governing the qualifications of dental hygienists.

Duties and responsibilities are congruent with and reflect the OSHA standards and regulations for dental hygienists.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintains and cleans equipment in the dental hygiene room and the x-ray developing equipment.
• Maintains the recall system which consists of a card mailed to each patient telling them the date and time of their next cleaning appointment or reminds them to call to make an appointment for same.
• Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.
• Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease.
• Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
• Feel lymph nodes under patient's chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate presence of oral cancer.
• Apply fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.
• Examine gums, using probes, to locate periodontal recessed gums and signs of gum disease.
• Expose and develop x-ray film.
• Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health
• Remove excess cement from coronal surfaces of teeth.
• Make impressions for study casts.
• Place, carve, and finish amalgam restorations.
• Administer local anesthetic agents.
• Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.
• Remove sutures and dressings.
• Place and remove rubber dams, matrices, and temporary restorations.
• Teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene.
• Work chair-side with the dentist during treatment.
• Trains, mentors and supervises students and clinical support staff as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Current Dental Hygienist license required.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Ability to examine, assess and document oral conditions through the use of clinical measurements, radiographs and other assessment methods.
• Ability to educate clients regarding oral health.
• Ability to evaluate the dental hygiene plan of care, as well as the patients satisfaction with the plan.
• Ability to implement non-surgical periodontal therapy.
• Excellent interactive communication skills.
• Ability to maintain client confidentiality.
• Excellent working knowledge of the English language.
• Ability to apply safety knowledge relevant to equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies.
• Knowledge of healthcare regulations and preventative measures (HIPAA confidentiality, infection spread, etc.)
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Ability to time management effectively.
• Ability to coordinate well with manual dexterity and hand steadiness.

EDUCATION

Graduate of a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association

EXPERIENCE

2 years practice experience preferred

CERTIFICATE/LICENSE

State of Vermont Dental Hygienist

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required or ability to obtain certification

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to talk or hear.

The incumbent frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls.

The incumbent is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The incumbent must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 lbs.

Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer and printer, x-ray machine, autoclave and other lab equipment, copier, telephone, and facsimile machine

Salary : $40 - $47