Dental Hygienist

JOB TITLE: Dental Hygienist 

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Health Services

Department: Dental

SUPERVISOR: Dentist/Dental Coordinator

FLSA: Exempt

PAY RANGE:  Based on Experience

ALL FULL TIME POSITIONS:     In addition to your pay, your salary also includes Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance. The Biweekly deduction from employee paycheck is $40.00 for Employee Only, $95.00 Employee plus Children, $120.00 Employee plus Spouse, and $140.00 Employee plus family.  

CPN Health Services personnel may be assigned to provide services to patients of all ages including but not limited to Indian Children and will require a criminal history background screening.

JOB SUMMARY: Provide comprehensive dental hygiene care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

•Examine radiographs for signs of calculus, oral pathology, and dental diseases.

•Refer patients to the Dentist when required.

•Recognize contraindications to prophylaxis.

•Remove plaque, calculus, and stain.

•Polish teeth.

•Apply pit and fissure sealants, when needed.

•Perform postoperative treatments such as pack and suture removal.

•Counsel patients on dental disease prevention and control, proper brushing andflossing techniques, and use of dental health and dietary aids.

•Record treatment and check for accuracy.

•Sign dental record entries.

•Ensure that patients are able to demonstrate increased knowledge and skill in oralhygiene procedures.

• Call and schedule periodontal maintenance on high-risk patients due for maintenance.

High-risk patients include those with diabetes, controlled hypertension, and severe

periodontal disease.

• Maintain a full schedule; actively seek out additional patient or administrative duties.

• Assist the dental team in planning and developing a budget, training plans, and

obtaining training materials.

• Render treatment, sterilize and prepare instruments and supplies according to clinic

policy and OSHA standards.

• Assist with the periodontal maintenance recall system.

• Provide home care instructions.

• Remove and replace sharps containers when ¾ full.

• Order supplies with consent from the Dentist.

• Coordinate clinical assignments with the Dentist to ensure total coverage of patients

requiring periodontal hygiene care.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

• Perform other duties and projects as required by management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to adapt quickly to new procedures, policies, and ideas and is easily

instructed.

• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.

• Good communication with supervisor, sensitive, pleasant, professional, and courteous

with patients and dental staff.

• Knowledge of dental hygiene sciences such as oral anatomy, histology, nutrition

pharmacology, the principles and techniques of dental hygiene, and dental

instruments and materials to perform specialized prophylactic and preventive dental

hygiene procedures including scaling, root planning, and subgingival curettage.

• Knowledge of oral pathology and periodontology sufficient to identify a variety of

abnormal conditions such as acute gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal pockets

and provide the necessary prophylactic and therapeutic dental hygiene treatment.

• Knowledge of systemic diseases such as diabetes sufficient to recognize their

manifestations, understand the disease processes, determine proper course of dental

hygiene treatment and to provide the specialized oral care and follow-up instructions.

• Skill and dexterity in manipulating a variety of dental instruments while performing

specialized prophylactic and therapeutic dental hygiene procedures such as scaling,

deep root planning, and subgingival curettage.

• Knowledge of dental radiology including radiographic principles, digital x-rays,

intraoral and extraoral techniques, processing, exposure factors and radiation safety,

sufficient to take, process, and mount a variety of X-rays, and use them as aids in

performing dental hygiene treatment and educating patients.

• Ability to use computers to chart and document treatment

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION:

• CPR certification.

• Must be currently registered as a Dental Hygienist in the State of Oklahoma.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The ability to stand and walk around for prolonged periods of time with arms in a

slightly raised or extended position.

• Some bending, stretching, kneeling, and lifting are required.

• Day to day job duties require repetitive motion.

• Must meet all health care immunization requirements.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

• General clinical environment with frequent exposure to chemicals, bloodborne

pathogens and patient body fluids.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work

performed by an employee in this position. These statements are not to be construed as

an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this

position.