Dental Hygienist Practitioner

UPMC•Allison Park, PA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist/Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner performs prophylactic and therapeutic dental services and provides client education to prevent and control dental disease without a dentist being present. The position is based at UPMC Children’s Hampton Dental Office in Allison Park, Pennsylvania, and requires Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner (PHDHP) certification and the ability to work independently. The practitioner performs dental hygiene services within the scope of applicable standards of care, including polishing, scaling, and root planing; may provide approved preventive treatments such as topical fluoride and dental sealants; takes and develops radiographs; advises patients on oral care; and maintains accurate records. The practitioner performs services without a dentist’s authorization, assignment, or examination. Dental records must be maintained for five years from the date of the last treatment entry and include required patient, service, radiograph, and annual dentist-referral documentation.

Requirements

Degree from an accredited Dental Hygienist Program.
Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners license.
Additional education and a license as a Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner.
Ability to work independently.
Knowledge of dental equipment and dental terminology.
CPR based on AHA standards, including didactic and skills demonstration components, within 30 days of hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Dental Hygienist licensure/certification.
Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner licensure/certification.
Act 31, 33, 34, and 73 clearances, with renewal.

Responsibilities

Clean and care for teeth within applicable dental standards of care, including polishing, scaling, and root planing.
Provide oral health education and advise patients on proper home care and treatment of teeth and gum tissues.
Perform approved dental care and preventive treatments, such as topical fluoride application and dental sealants.
Take and develop radiographs, documenting their necessity or justification and retaining the radiographs as required.
Maintain accurate records of services and communicate appropriate, accurate information to the health care team.
Maintain dental records for five years from the date of the last treatment entry, including required patient details, service descriptions, radiograph information, and documentation of the annual referral to a dentist.
Assist the dentist in organizing and implementing clinic procedures and systems.
Perform supply inventories and properly clean, pack, and store supplies and instruments.
Follow clinic safety procedures, continuing education requirements, operational procedures, corporate compliance requirements, occupational exposure policies, the disaster plan, infection control policies, and regulatory requirements.
Demonstrate understanding of the age-specific needs of the dental client population.
Perform dental hygiene services without a dentist’s authorization, assignment, or examination.