Dental Hygienist III

Seneca Nation Health System•Town of Brant, NY

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist III performs oral prophylaxis and periodontal therapy to prevent or protect against oral disease. The role supervises and coordinates community-based programs and provides off-site direct dental care and outreach to high-risk patient groups, including children and elders. The position also provides patient education, supports dental interns, and coordinates community outreach and care-management efforts.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited dental hygiene program.
New York State license as a Registered Dental Hygienist.
Associate degree in Applied Sciences.
Three years of experience at an FQHC, including involvement in community-based programming.
Interpersonal skills.
Organizational skills and time-management skills.
Credentialing as an adjunct clinical instructor with an affiliated dental school (for example, UBSDM) to supervise and instruct university dental interns providing periodontal and hygiene care to SNHS patients.

Nice To Haves

Five years of experience in a non-FQHC setting with prior community-based programming.
Experience in a large hospital, academic medical center, outpatient health care setting, or Indian Health Service (IHS)/tribal health.

Responsibilities

Performs oral prophylaxis and scaling to prevent oral disease.
Takes and develops diagnostic radiographs.
Observes oral structures and tissues, records findings, and reports conditions to the Dentist.
Provides onsite and offsite fluoride treatments to children up to sixteen years of age.
Instructs patients on effective oral hygiene methods and their importance, adapting guidance to individual patients and the clinical or community program served.
Provides off-site preventive and routine care in coordination with community-based prevention and patient-education programs, including school-based care delivered at ECLC Health Offices.
May assist the Dentist when the dental assistant is absent.
Attends and completes mandatory staff meetings, trainings, and in-services.
Follows department, Seneca Nation Health System, and Seneca Nation policies and procedures.
Supervises and instructs university dental interns during their SNHS rotations, including examination and treatment planning while they provide hygiene and periodontal care.
Oversees outreach project care-management efforts, maintains screening records, and coordinates with off-site healthcare staff, parents, or guardians to ensure recommended care is received promptly.
Coordinates outreach and educational fairs on both territories, including preparing dental supplies for distribution and ordering, stocking, and maintaining inventory.
Implements the hygiene recall system by contacting patients through phone calls, written reminders, and overdue notices to emphasize the importance of oral health.