Job Description

SUMMARY: Under the general direction of the Chief Dental Officer, the Dental Hygienist performs dental prophylactic treatments and instructs individuals and/or groups in the care of their teeth and mouth. The dental hygienist is responsible for primary preventive dental education.

PRIMARY DUTIES, ESSENTIAL FUNCTION, and RESPONSIBILITIES include the following: (other duties may be assigned) 

• Performs complete dental prophylaxis of teeth including ultrasonic, hand, and gross scaling (full mouth debridement), scaling and root planning, sulcular irrigation, and coronal polishing of teeth.
• Provides preventive clinical services including but not limited to oral hygiene education, nutritional counseling, prenatal advice, smoking cessation encouragement and post-operative instructions to patients, sealant application, oral hygiene education, baby bottle tooth decay prevention and education, radiographs, topical fluoride applications, impressions, and polishing of restorations. 
• Performs screening for periodontal and gum disease and oral cancer and identifies areas to aid in co-diagnosis of decay and pre-existing conditions (pre-charting), periodontal charting establishes maintenance plans, assists patients with referrals to dental specialists or primary medical providers as suggested by Chief Dental Officer (or assigned Dental Provider). 
• Provides the following radiology services: expose and process dental radiographs as ordered by the Chief Dental Officer (or assigned Dental Provider). Assists in maintaining and updating the Radiation Safety Program annually and assists in maintaining and monitoring all dosimeter badges.
• Proper management of dental instruments such as presoaking, ultrasonic cleaning of soiled instruments, dating all sterilized instruments, sterilizing all appropriate instruments and proper storage of instruments after sterilization and restocking of instruments in dental treatment rooms. 
• Follows all OSHA standards as stated in Regulatory Compliance Manual and MedNorth Health Center Policies and Procedure Manual.
• Cleans room (s) after each hygiene patient. Wipes chairs, instruments counter, etc., sprays and disinfects room. Placement of all barriers (chairs, keyboard, light switches, etc.), and prepares for the next patient. At the end of the day straightens all operatories in preparation for the next day.
• Keeps the Chief Dental Officer informed of supplies that must be ordered and restock rooms with ordered/needed supplies.
• Develops various oral health education programs for Dental Hygiene Month, Children Dental Health Month, groups in the community, schools, boys and girls clubs, the County Health Department and Head Start and other programs upon the request of the Chief Dental Officer.
• Performs all duties as outlined by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.
• Protects patient confidentiality at all times by complying with patient confidentiality and HIPAA policies.
• Provides in-service education to the dental staff and provide educational records to the Chief Dental Officer.
• Serves as the on-site adjunct instructor for dental hygiene students from Cape Fear Community College and the University of Chapel Hill.
• Obtain and maintain Limited Supervision credentials to perform indirect supervision of dental treatment of patients when Chief Dental Officer or designated Dental Provider is offsite.

Corporate Compliance: It is an essential job element that everyone be compliant with the full law and fully cooperates with the compliance program without fear of retaliation from the organization.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and procedures as well as applicable North Carolina law (s).

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES : Maintain monthly recall system. Maintain and routine checks of medication and other items in the Emergency Medical Kit, Assist with planning Medical Emergency Plan, Routine Checks of Dental AED, and daily Decontamination of Dental Treatment Rooms.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skills, and/or ability required:

• Graduate of a Dental Hygienist Program.
• Licensed by the North Carolina Board of Dentistry.
• Knowledge of standards of practice and procedures in a dental clinic.
• Adheres to the Dental Practice Act of NC and the NC Board of Dental Examiners rules and regulations, OSHA standards, CDC regulations and other pertinent regulatory agencies. 
• Possesses the ability to communicate effectively with patients, staff and community groups.
• Possesses the ability to understand technical and medical terminology as they relate to dentistry.
• Ability to teach.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Graduate of Dental Hygienist Program with an Associate or bachelor’s degree in dental Hygiene.
• Two years of experience is preferred.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL/MOTOR SKILLS : The Dental Hygienist must understand medical terminology, accurate keyboarding skills, ability to process work error free -- Ability to use standard office equipment, including computers, photocopiers, and facsimile machines -- Ability to learn, understand, and use Internet insurance eligibility systems, Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality when working with various records and reports containing personal, financial, medical, and insurance information. Ability to communicate effectively and deal with culturally diverse populations in the provision of dental clinical services. Ability to perform under flexible, frequently stressful working conditions and react calmly and quickly in emergency situations. Ability to deal with combative patients in a calm, effective manner. Ability to deal with combative patients in a calm, effective manner. Ability to prepare and deliver lectures on dental health education to professional and community groups.

• INTERPERSONAL SKILLS : Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills -- Excellent telephone etiquette -- Teamwork and communication skills essential -- Treat all patients, coworkers, and managers with courtesy and respect
• MENTAL ABILITIES : Cognitive reasoning -- Clear thinking in high-pressure situations -- Ability to prioritize and withstand the pressure of continual work with variable requirements -- Ability to concentrate and maintain accuracy despite frequent interruptions -- Critical thinking and organization skills, problem-solving, and reasoning capabilities
• LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to speak English fluently -- Spanish speaking or another language is a plus
• LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS: Current license by the North Carolina Board of Dentistry.
• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, and hear, use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

The special vision requirements for this job are close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions for this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

MedNorth Health Center provides comprehensive health care services inside a multi-cultural medical/dental clinic, to all individuals; insured, uninsured, and underinsured. The building is heated in winter and air-conditioned in the summer with noise levels of moderate to loud. We serve patients who speak multiple languages and who may need the assistance of an interpreter. In this position, one may be subject to exposure to copier toner, correction fluid, bright fluorescent lighting, and continuous personal computer exposure.

This job is a Bloodborne Pathogen’s risk category I position.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:

• The employee is expected to attend work on a daily basis and to be at work on time.
• The employee is expected to be a team player.
• The employee is expected to report absences in accordance with personnel policies and procedures.
• The employees’ work is expected to be accurate, neat, and thorough, and completed on time.
• The employee is expected to have a positive attitude, be cooperative, and be considerate of others.
• The employee is expected to be dependable and is expected to accept responsibility for assignments and duties given.
• The employee is expected to dress and act in a professional manner and to adhere to all safety standards.
• The employee is expected to participate in staff meetings, be courteous and polite with patients and other staff.
• The employee is expected to maintain confidentiality.

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