Dental Hygienist - Full Time

Ozarks Community Hospital • Stockton, MO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist will support the mission of the Ozarks Community Health Center. Our mission is to provide greater access to quality, compassionate, and professional healthcare through our comprehensive health system and community partnerships. The individual is cross-trained to function in several areas to provide dental hygiene, dental assisting, and clerical support services. They actively and consistently contribute to department operations and communications, operating as primary hygiene support to the OCHC Dental staff dentist and/or volunteer dentists who work in the clinic. The role requires behaving in a manner consistent with the mission and objectives of OCHC and performing other duties as requested.

Requirements

• Degree in Dental Hygiene
• Licensed and registered as a dental hygienist in the State of Missouri
• Currently licensed and registered as a dental hygienist in the State of Missouri
• Current BLS for Healthcare Providers CPR certification
• Local infiltration and block anesthesia license

Responsibilities

• Brings patient back for dental appointment in a timely manner.
• Enters/updates patient health history and medication at each appointment to ensure all information is current.
• Completes patient intake at each appointment ensuring all information is gathered and entered correctly.
• Performs a complete oral cancer screening at each hygiene appointment.
• Examines gums using a Perio probe to document recessed gums, bleeding, and pocket measurements on all patients 13 years and above annually.
• Ensures all patients are current on their periodic exams and x-rays.
• Processes and develops clear diagnostic radiographs.
• Provides oral health education to all patients.
• Charts existing restorations on all new patients and updates watches, treatment, and dental charting at each visit to include the correct provider.
• Performs a thorough cleaning to include removing build-up, calculus, and stain from teeth and beneath margins of gums.
• Informs the dentist of notable items/events/changes to the patient’s oral health, medication list, medical history changes, etc.
• Ensures sealants are completed on first and second molars on children and applies sealants during their hygiene appointment before applying fluoride.
• Accurately documents and creates treatment plans and discusses treatment and cost with the patient or parent/guardian.
• Ensures the correct ICD 10 codes are entered into the dental superbill before walking the patient to the front desk.
• Has the follow-up information noted in Expanse for the front desk to ensure the correct appointment is scheduled for the next visit.
• Accurately adds ICD 10 codes into Open Dental to ensure it matches the dental superbill.
• Accurately creates and documents all information pertaining to the appointment in Open Dental with few corrections.
• Completes all dental notes in Open Dental before leaving each day to allow the provider to review and sign in a timely manner.
• Maintains a high level of infection control through appropriate use of infection control barriers, appropriate clothing, avoiding cross-contamination of sterile/disinfected with non-sterile/non-disinfected, and follows OCHC policies on sterilization and disinfection.
• Ensures set up (including appropriate instruments, air/water syringe, low/high speed suction, infection control barriers, etc.) for patient visit is complete before seating the patient.
• Maintains a full component of supplies in operatories at all times.
• Safely and efficiently operates equipment and other processing devices including but not limited to radiographic equipment (IE Nomad/Pano/ScanX/Phosphor plates/Etc.), Autoclave, Statim, Ultrasonic, curing lights, suction devices, hand pieces, vacuum, operatory units-air/water/power. Notifies provider or administrative lead of any issues promptly.
• Assists in dental screenings internal/external for special events/visits.
• Works well with other dental staff members as a team, watches all chairs at all times to jump in and help turn over rooms, set up rooms, as well as pulling back patients, getting the intake completed and/or x-rays to help out other staff.
• Wears radiation badge at all times and monthly updates badge using Instadose reading on the iPad.
• Accurately documents and creates all referrals per Provider instruction ensuring their insurance is accepted and all x-rays are taken that are required and current.
• Ensures all clearance letters, pre-medication, or any other documentation needed are in patients' chart and documented appropriately in Open Dental before appointments.
• Ensures all follow-up calls to patients, other clinics, or medical providers are completed in a timely manner and documented.
• Assists with anesthetics or any other duties requested by the dental provider in a timely manner.
• Willingly travels to other dental locations in the area to fill in, assist, or attend meetings.
• Helps others out or finds work to stay busy during downtime.
• Attends and actively participates in Provider Meetings.
• Obtains signatures on dental consents for S&RP (per quad) or refusal for S&RP.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree