Dental Hygienist

Description

Riverland Community Health is a Federally-Qualified Health Center in St. Paul, where patients receive community-based Family Practice medical care in addition to mental health, dentistry, social work and other integrated services. When joining RCH, you become part of a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming team who are dedicated to serving our patients and pursuing our mission to deliver excellent healthcare for all and training for the providers of tomorrow.

The Dental Hygienist position is responsible for the direct provision of oral hygiene, providing appropriate oral health information and appropriate preventive services to dental patient of the clinic in individual and groups setting. The Dental Hygienist performs clinical support services and assigned related work under the direct supervision of the Dental Director and Dental Manager.

• Work with staff dentists to assist in the oral health management of all clinic patients through providing oral health education and appropriate individual and/or group counseling.
• Perform initial and periodic charting of oral conditions; not limited to but including, patient screening procedures; such as assessment of oral health conditions, review of the health history, oral cancer screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting and taking blood pressure and pulse.
• Document patient chief complaint, oral hygiene status, degree of plaque and calculus, and full mouth periodontal probing and charting to obtain baseline and recall oral hygiene assessment data based on accepted principles of oral hygiene and periodontal care and develop periodontal treatment plan strategies.
• Review and document patient’s medical history at each visit.
• Proficient in taking clinically diagnostic digital X-rays, removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth and maintain equipment as outlined in safety manual and radiation safety manual.
• Proficient in applying preventive materials to the teeth (e.g., sealants, fluorides, and desensitizing medication).
• Teach patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling).
• Counsel patients about good nutrition and its impact on oral health.
• Making impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth used by dentists to evaluate patient treatment needs).
• Perform documentation and office management activities.
• Provide clinical oral hygiene services including child and adult prophylaxis, full mouth debridement, scaling and root planning, sealant applications, and fluoride applications consistent with patient assessment and accepted professional guidelines and clinical protocols. Also be able to integrate appropriate patient dental hygiene care with other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s health care management.
• Record and document patient-hygienist encounters as they occur in the patient’s dental record so that it accurately and completely reflects the nature of the contact, the condition of the patient and the care or treatment provided.
• Perform independent procedures as delegated and directed by a dentist in accordance with state regulations and law as well as Dental Department protocols.
• Follow procedures to maintain infection control. Sterilize, disinfect, an maintain instruments and operations; handle and dispose of infectious and hazardous waste according to according to OSHA and clinic protocols.
• Set-up and clean-up operatories, materials, and equipment needed for dental and hygiene procedures.
• Organize and perform preventive oral health presentations and procedures at on-site and off-site locations.
• Administer and monitor nitrous oxide when applicable.
• Answer phone, screen calls, confirm appointments, and do recall as needed.
• Attend staff meetings and contribute to planning and workflow of dental clinic.
• Have respect, courtesy and great rapport with patients and staff.
• Adhere to dress code.
• Perform other duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the Dental Director and manager.

• Requires a comprehensive knowledge of oral hygiene care in outpatient settings
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of modern oral hygiene and periodontal patient care is necessary.
• Be cognizant of the public health, social and economic factors which impact on the overall health, and specifically the oral health of their patients.
• Work creatively with other health care professionals form a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal program effectiveness and patient benefits.
• Creatively solve problems through individual and/or programmatic actions.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Attention to details and multitasking skills.
• Understand and adhere to infection control protocol.
• Good skills and understanding in digital x-ray exposure techniques.
• Ability to perform the job in accordance with Riverland Community Health’s Standards of Business Conduct, which includes…