Dental Hygienist

Mayo Clinic•Rochester, MN

10d

About The Position

The dental hygienist evaluates the oral health status of each patient to effectively plan and deliver comprehensive preventive oral care for periodontal patients. Initial and ongoing periodontal hygiene treatments are conducted in close collaboration with the periodontist to meet the needs of a diverse patient population, including patients referred from various specialties such as: Prosthodontics (including full reconstruction and dental implants), Orthodontics, Osseointegration, Sleep Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Transplant, Cardiovascular, as well as hospital-based care. The dental hygienist provides patient education on dental and periodontal disease processes, enabling the development of individualized home care regimens. The dental hygienist also actively participates in departmental activities, scholarly initiatives, and research projects within the department and throughout the organization.

Responsibilities

Assess patient's medical and dental history and periodontal status.
Review medical history, allergies and medications; identifies potential contraindications to treatment.
Conduct a thorough intra/extraoral examination; recognizes and records any deviation from normal.
Assess periodontal status both intraorally and radiographically; utilizes correct principles of instrumentation while probing and exploring during assessment.
Develop treatment plan based on patient's needs identified from completed assessment phase.
Initiate individualized plan of care.
Develop an individualized patient dental hygiene treatment plan.
Accurately document all assessment findings.
Produce quality, diagnostic radiographs depicting appropriate teeth, area and/or landmarks.