Dental Hygienist

Job Title: Dental Hygienist – Full Time

Location: CP Rochester Dental Office – Elmwood Ave. Rochester, NY

Salary commensurate with experience: $38.00 – 43.00 per hour

Employment: This is a full-time 4 days/32 hours per week position. Days of work are Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu during program hours 8:00am-4:30pm. Hours may vary per day.

Required Education and Experience:

• Must be licensed as a Dental Hygienist in New York State.
• Ensure/complete dental infection control per NYS license.
• Must be eligible to provide Medicaid services / insurance billing.
• Certification for infiltrative local anesthesia and nitrous oxide is preferred.
• Clinical experience working with people with developmental disabilities preferred.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Computer literacy required.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications: None

Summary/Objective: The Dental Hygienist provides teeth cleaning and polishing; implements and evaluates dental hygiene care; provides proper oral hygiene instructions; examines head, neck and intraoral areas for signs of oral disease; take x-rays; apply fluoride or sealants and ensures infection control policy is followed.

Essential Functions:

• Imparts agency philosophy of “Equal Opportunity, Independence and Realization of Individual Potential” to children, families, program staff and community resources.
• Maintains confidentiality of information relating to individuals and their families in accordance with agency policy.
• Cleans calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums using dental instruments.
• Charts conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist.
• Examines gums, using probes, to locate and measure receded gingiva and signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease.
• Applies fluoride and other cavity-preventing agents to strengthen teeth and prevent dental decay; apply sealants to prevent pit and fissure caries.
• Takes radiographs.
• Provides proper oral hygiene instructions for brushing and flossing; help patients to set oral health goals and collaborate with them, family and staff to meet their goals; counsel patients to control dietary sugar intake.
• Takes impressions for study casts.
• Removes sutures and dressings.
• Prepares work area and instruments; keep work area neat and orderly; maintains and sharpens instruments; cleans, oils and set up equipment; disinfects surfaces; sterilizes instruments; sets up instrument trays.
• Reviews patients’ medical histories and consult with dentist and/or physician about any special care needs.
• Infiltrates local anesthetic agents and administer nitrous oxide, if certified.
• Provides dental health education and conducts in-services to augment services of dentist.
• Works chairside with dentist, as needed, during examinations and treatments.
• Performs dental assisting for dentist as needed to assist with coverage.
• Achieves program or department goals by performing other responsibilities as required, including assisting with front desk duties.
• Attends meetings as assigned.
• Maintains quality control.
• Participates in conferences, workshops and in-service training as needed or recommended to enhance job skills and personal growth and development.
• Adheres to agency’s policies and procedures as well as department guidelines.

Competency Requirements:

• Knowledge of general principles of dentistry and advanced knowledge of dental hygiene.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Effective Communication Skills.
• Time Management Skills.
• Ethical conduct.

Supervisory Responsibility: None.

Other Duties: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment: This job operates in a dental office environment. This role routinely uses dental equipment as well as standard office equipment.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear clearly. The employee frequently is required to sit, stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently pull and push wheelchairs and be able to assist in lifting an adult. Will incur prolonged periods of standing, leaning and bending. Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.

Travel: Travel is primarily local during the business day, but employee may be expected to work at any of our partner agencies.

Comprehensive benefit plan including but not limited to:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 17 Days Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• 9 Paid Holidays
• Matching 403b and/or ROTH Retirement Plan
• Additional Insurance Offerings - Specified Disease Insurance w/ Cancer Rider