Dental Hygienist - On Call

Job Description

At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we honor all members of our community and acknowledge the dignity of each person we serve. Our purpose is to provide high quality, comprehensive primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farm workers and a view to removing barriers to health care. We strive to provide an environment that welcomes and values the people we employ and serve.

If you are unsure whether you meet all the required qualifications for this role but are interested and passionate about this potential position, we encourage you to apply.

The Dental Hygienist On Call provides preventative and therapeutic oral prophylaxis and educates patients in the control and prevention of oral disease such as caries, and periodontal disease through proper oral hygiene and regular professional care in a variety of settings.

• Provide appropriate periodontal services as treatment planned by the dental provider.
• Provide routine prophylaxis to adult and pediatric patients, including full mouth scaling, polish, and use of topical fluoride as needed.
• Differentiate types of periodontal disease, prioritize and sequence treatment properly including scaling, root planning, local anesthesia, and delivery of chemotherapeutic agents as indicated by the periodontal involvement of the patient.
• Report status of periodontal health and recommend proper interval for reevaluation/recall.
• Remove overhangs of filling materials and polish amalgams when endorsed.
• Place soft relines, when endorsed.
• Perform full mouth periodontal charting that includes probing depths, mobility, furcation, recession, and mucogingival involvement.
• Perform and document a complete head and neck exam, including soft tissue pathology.
• Expose diagnostic digital radiographs using existing dental radiography software.
• Provide restorative treatment, with dentist supervision, if a restorative endorsement is obtained.
• Utilize nitrous oxide in treatment of patients, if permit is obtained.
• Provide chair‑side oral hygiene instruction in plaque control, appropriate use of home fluoride and desensitizing agents, and/or dietary and tobacco counseling.
• Engage in preventive tele dentistry visits, as needed.
• Participate in grant‑specific activities related to goals, deliverables, and outcomes as needed.
• Educate caregivers as to oral healthcare needs of accompanied patient.
• Assist with other clinic responsibilities as needed including office maintenance.
• Participate in the education of dental and dental hygiene students.
• Provide training to co‑workers, in the form of lunch and learns of other structured activities emphasizing OHI and patient education.
• Maintain, clean, sterilize, and sharpen instruments.
• Place dental sealants.
• Deliver anesthetic as requested by treating dentist.
• Comply with "Universal Precautions" for infection control.
• Review patient's medical history and dispense or confirm PAC.
• Produce documentation necessary and consistent with generally accepted professional dental standards.
• Maintain 90% compliance in 90% of areas reviewed in annual chart audit.
• Help in the organization, implementation, and facilitation of current grants (state, local, private) related to dental health services.
• Inventory supplies related to work.
• Develop and modify prevention programs.
• Attend office trainings and meetings along with CDE as required.
• Work with interpreters and non‑English speaking patients.
• Complete all required VG training as assigned.
• Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

• Comply with all Oregon Health Authority Sealant Certification requirements.
• Document patient visit information following care.
• Comply with all requirements of Virginia Garcia contracted partners.
• Maintain a 90% sealant retention rate if working in the school sealant program.
• Educate patients on the health benefits of Virginia Garcia Services in an effort to increase patient participation.
• Follow up with patients identified at risk of…