Dental Hygienist at Medical Services in Fort Logan

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL) is seeking a Dental Hygienist to provide professional dental hygiene care directly to patients. This role involves providing consultation and education to healthcare staff and ensuring seamless dental clinic operations. The Dental Clinic is the primary dental provider for CMHHIFL hospital, offering comprehensive, preventative, and restorative dental care to patients. This is a part-time position (0.6 FTE) open to current Colorado residents only.

Requirements

Current, valid licensure as a dental hygienist from the from the Colorado Dental Board
Active Colorado Dental Hygiene License
Local Anesthesia Certification
BLS
Graduation from an accredited Dental Hygiene program.
Current, valid licensure as a Dental Hygienist issued by the Colorado Dental Board.
One year of experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing comprehensive dental hygiene services including prophylaxis, periodontal assessments, scaling and root planing, and patient education.
Experience performing conventional dental radiographs, periodontal charting, and documenting findings in electronic dental or medical record systems.
Experience assisting with dental examinations and collaborating with a dentist to support diagnosis and treatment planning.
Experience maintaining infection control and sterilization procedures in accordance with CDC guidelines, Joint Commission standards, and established dental clinic safety practices.
Experience working independently in a small dental clinic environment with limited staff, coordinating daily dental hygiene services in collaboration with a dentist.
Experience coordinating patient scheduling, appointment management, and daily clinic workflow in a dental setting.
Experience supporting the day-to-day operations of a dental clinic, including maintaining dental equipment, instruments, and supplies to ensure readiness for patient care.
Experience providing dental hygiene services in a public health, hospital, correctional, or institutional healthcare setting.
Experience working with individuals with mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, or complex medical needs.
Strong knowledge of infection control, sterilization, and dental clinic safety standards.
Experience using electronic health records (EHR) or electronic dental record systems.
Strong patient communication skills with a focus on preventive oral health education.
Ability to collaborate effectively with a dentist and interdisciplinary healthcare staff while maintaining independent responsibility for dental hygiene services.
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Provide excellent patient care and service by independently providing quality dental hygiene services such as: Remove deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth by scaling with hand, ultrasonic, or other devices from the surfaces of the tooth
Smooth and polish natural or restored tooth surfaces
Apply preventative materials such as the application of fluorides, sealants, and other topical agents for the prevention of oral disease
Perform patient screenings such as patient history, oral health assessments, dental charting, etc.
Take dental radiographs using dental radiographic equipment
Prepare study casts
Assist dentist with dental procedures
Administer topical anesthesia
Educate, instruct, and counsel healthcare personnel and patients
Screens dental radiographs and determines if new radiographs need to be taken
Uses professional dental hygiene standards to evaluate and assess patient complaints and conditions to make care recommendations.
Creates a therapeutic program specific to the patient to address dental hygiene issues.
Manages the dental clinic in an administrative capacity, such as but not limited to: Triage dental care requests. Evaluates urgency, determines the level of need and arranges the clinic schedule accordingly.
Consults with dentist when clinically indicated
Schedule and manage clinic patient flow
Coordinate, track, and ensure all inspections, certifications (e.g, equipment, CDPHE radiation registrations, etc.) remain up-to-date.
Order and procure supplies
Monitor expiration dates
Maintain SDS book, ensuring SDS sheets are current and updated as necessary
Ensure equipment is inspected, serviced, and repaired as necessary after obtaining any necessary approvals
Monitor budget
Maintains current documentation of patient procedures and services using hospital systems (i.e., electronic health record, dental electronic record, etc.)
Determines and adapts processes to ensure infection control and prevention standards are met
Performs proper safety and infection control procedures such as disinfection/sterilization of dental tools, glove use, mask use, goggle use, etc.
Reviews electronic health record workflows, adapts processes to ensure completed documentation in both the electronic health record and the dental health record (duplicate systems must be maintained).
Other duties as assigned

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program