Job Title

Dental Hygienist General Duties: Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop x-rays, or apply fluoride or sealants. Specific Duties: Prepares treatment room for patient by adhering to prescribed procedures and protocols. Prepares patient for dental hygiene treatment by welcoming, soothing, and draping patient. Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests. Maintains instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selecting instruments. Selects materials and equipment for dental hygiene visit by evaluating patient's oral health. Completes dental prophylaxis by scaling and root planning and periodontal maintenance with mechanical debridement of plaque and sub gingival calculus down to the root of the affected tooth. Detects disease by completing oral cancer screening; feeling and visually examining hard and soft tissues. Arrests dental decay by applying fluorides and other cavity-preventing agents. Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drugs and oxygen supply, and directory of emergency numbers. Educates patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions and postoperative instructions; providing reminders of time of next dental hygiene visit. Documents dental hygiene services by recording vital signs and medical and dental histories; charting in patient records. Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential. Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations. Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols. Ensures operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and technologies. Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies. Conserves dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results. Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Maintains professional appearance and follows established dress code. Maintains patient and staff confidentiality. Demonstrates reliability in meeting work schedules, the fulfillment of responsibilities and commitments in daily attendance, punctuality, productivity, and efficiency. Maintains awareness of new information applicable to the position's duties and responsibilities (e.g. policies, meeting minutes, procedures, memoranda, protocols, etc.). Demonstrates a strong interest in working with both an interdisciplinary health care team and a diverse patient population. May also, but not required: Maintains patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restoration; cleaning and polishing removable appliances; placing, carving, and finishing amalgam restorations, removing cement from crowns and bridges. Expose and develop x-ray film. Apply local anesthesia and administer nitrous oxide for patient comfort during dental procedures. Performs other incidental duties as assigned. Reasonable Accommodations Statement: To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires compliance with Health Center's compliance standards, including its Standards of Conduct, Compliance Program, and policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the regular performance evaluation. Physical Requirements: The primary portion of work is in a well-lit, ventilated, and air-conditioned facility. It may require prolonged, extensive sitting/standing. Position may require stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, handling, and/or use of tactile information. The individual must be able to express ideas or exchange thoughts by means of talking, hearing, reading, and/or writing. The individual should have motor coordination, manual dexterity, finger dexterity, eye-hand-foot coordination. This position may include transporting objects, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Qualifications Interpersonal Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals. Responsible Ability to be held accountable or answerable for one's conduct. Relationship Building Ability to effectively build relationships with customers and co-workers. Loyal The trait of feeling a duty to the employer. Ethical Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards. Honesty/Integrity Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace. Customer Oriented Ability to take care of the customers' needs while following company procedures. Detail Oriented Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task. Accountability Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions. Accuracy Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly. Reliability The trait of being dependable and trustworthy. Organized Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task. Education Requirements Either a 2 year associate's degree, or a 4 year bachelor's degree in dental hygiene from an accredited dental hygiene school, college, or university. Complete and pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Successfully pass one of the following regional examinations: CITA, CRDTS, CDCA/NERB, SRTA, or WREB Pass Kentucky's jurisprudence exam. Be certified in CPR. Maintain active dental hygiene license with the Kentucky Board of Dentistry. Complete continuing education required by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry and maintain documentation. Registered to practice under General Supervision.