Hygienist

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.

• 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…