Dental Hygienist

Wake County Government•Raleigh, NC

19d•Onsite

About The Position

Wake County Public Health Dental Clinic seeks a flexible, high-energy, patient-focused Dental Hygienist to provide preventive dental care to children from birth to age 20, including children with Medicaid and uninsured, low-income children. The clinic provides comprehensive dental services, participates in the annual Give Kids A Smile program, and conducts community outreach for early detection of childhood caries. The Dental Hygienist provides direct clinical preventive services, patient and parent education, and guidance to dental students. Duties include performing dental hygiene procedures, taking and processing radiographs, following infection control and sterilization protocols, and applying sealants, fluoride varnish, and silver diamine fluoride. The role may involve community outreach and requires staying current on dental techniques, materials, and applicable standards. The position is based at the Public Health Building in Raleigh, North Carolina. The regular schedule is Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Employment is regular. Employees in Health Clinics and the Public Health Division must receive influenza immunization as a condition of initial and continued employment, subject to federal law. The position also supports and participates in emergency preparedness and response activities, which may involve temporary changes in duties, hours, or work location.

Requirements

Associate's degree or equivalent from an accredited dental hygiene program.
One year of experience as a dental hygienist.
License to practice as a Dental Hygienist from the NC State Board of Dental Examiners.
CPR certification.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Dentrix dental software or similar EHR.
Ability to recognize and respect individual differences and work with a diverse population.
Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships that encourage communication and teamwork.
Ability to build and maintain collaborative working relationships with leadership, coworkers, and staff.
Ability to accomplish tasks and processes accurately and completely.
Ability to convey information clearly and concisely, verbally or in writing, and listen and respond appropriately.
Ability to instruct and train employees, students, faculty, and other clients, including explaining procedures, practices, and equipment operation.
Ability to ensure that self and dental staff understand and comply with applicable policies and procedures.
Ability to maintain conditions that ensure a healthy and safe working environment.

Nice To Haves

More than one year of experience providing dental care in a public health or predominantly pediatric population setting.
Spanish language skills.
Experience with Dentrix or similar dental software.

Responsibilities

Perform dental hygiene procedures and prepare patients for appointments; dismiss patients after appointments.
Expose, develop, and mount dental radiographs.
Follow infection control and sterilization protocols.
Apply dental sealants, fluoride varnish, and silver diamine fluoride.
Provide patient and parent education and guidance to dental students.
Provide educational opportunities for rotating dental students, dental hygiene students, and dental assisting students.
Maintain and develop effective working relationships with the WCHS Dental Clinic team to foster a team-centered environment.
Participate in community outreach events, including Give Kids A Smile, to promote public relations and childhood caries prevention.
Stay current on dental techniques and materials, and on infection control standards specified by the CDC, OSHA, and other regulatory entities.
Support and participate in department emergency preparedness and response activities, including required training and exercises.