Dental Hygienist

Nitelines Usa•Springfield, MO

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist will provide direct patient care under the guidance of higher-level or supervisory staff for complex cases, requiring general supervision from a Dentist. Responsibilities include performing patient medical assessments, setting up and cleaning operatories, handling instruments safely, providing routine oral prophylactic care, deep scaling, curettage, root planning, cleaning dental prostheses, managing the dental recall system, applying desensitizing and sealant materials, and administering topical and local anesthetics as directed. The role also involves patient education on oral health, interpreting radiographs, ensuring proper infection control, and participating in patient safety protocols.

Requirements

US Citizen
Minimum of six (6) months of experience providing Dental Hygienist services.
Graduate of a school of allied health/technical program (or equivalent).
Current certification and registration in General Dentistry and Periodontology, as a Dental Hygienist.
Training must include dental radiology and radiology safety.
Certified in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in accordance with the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.
Ability to read, understand, count, fluently speak, and legibly write the English language.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual oral communication skills
Experience in a clinical setting

Responsibilities

Performs patient medical assessment (e.g., medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting).
Sets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
Provides routine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions and making impressions for fluoride carrier trays.
Provides gross debridement, deep scaling, curettage, and root planning procedures.
Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable.
Manages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed.
Applies desensitizing and sealant materials.
Administers topical anesthetic agents, local anesthetic (per State license), and local anti-infective agents as directed by the Dentist.
Accomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols.
Routinely interacts in a professional and courteous manner with managers, co-workers and other employees to accomplish the work of the organization.
Works with the Dental Assistants to provide input on general chairside assisting, works as a team player, and maintains efficient flow of patient care.
Facilitate team or unit processes by working collaboratively with team members or employees to ensure that tasks are completed.
Possess knowledge of clinic processes and services to function in and interact with various clinics throughout the hospital.
Responsible for providing patient education appropriate to the Patient’s needs and oral condition (e.g., post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention).
Prepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers.
Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.
Interprets radiographs and dental images. Images are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed.
Utilizes dental imaging safety techniques, and ensures retakes are minimized.
Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory.
Ensures instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by Sterile Processing Service standards and in a manner that does not delay clinical care.
Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images.
Modifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position).
Participate in patient information and time out per Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) requirements.
Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs for physical distress.