Float Registered Dental Hygienist - Comprehensive Care Center

Clinica Sierra Vista•Bakersfield, CA

7h•Onsite

About The Position

Clinica Sierra Vista is one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Nation, serving diverse communities including men and women of the fields, inner-city residents, rural and isolated populations, those with low, moderate, and fixed incomes, and families from various cultural backgrounds. The organization does not inquire about immigration status and treats all patients equally. They are seeking individuals who prioritize patient care. The Dental Hygienist Float acts as an auxiliary to the Dentist, functioning as a licensed professional oral health educator and clinical operator. This role utilizes scientific methods for the control and prevention of oral diseases, aiding patients in achieving and maintaining optimum oral health. The practice of dental hygiene includes assessment, development, planning, and implementation of a dental hygiene care plan, as well as oral health education, counseling, and health screening. The Dental Hygienist integrates preventive services to ensure the best possible sequence of procedures for restoring oral health and establishing a long-range preventive program.

Requirements

All applicants must hold current California Dental Hygiene License.
Must hold dental x-ray certificate.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish (recommendation).
Must exhibit a desire to participate in a community oriented preventive dentistry programs.

Responsibilities

Administer local anesthesia (Under Direct Supervision of dentist present in facility – hygienist must have evidence of satisfactory completion of a board-approved course to administer).
Administer nitrous analgesia (Under Direct Supervision of dentist present in facility – hygienist must have evidence of satisfactory completion of a board-approved course to administer).
Assess patients' teeth, bone, and periodontal tissues indicating the presence of any abnormalities or suspected diseases or conditions.
Co-diagnose with the dentist to develop appropriate periodontal treatment plans.
Bring to the immediate attention of the dentist any suspected lesion in the mouth or on the teeth.
Thoroughly remove soft and hard deposits and extrinsic stain from teeth, using hand instruments, ultrasonic cavitron inserts and prophy handpieces.
Instruct patients how to practice good oral hygiene; make recommendations as to appropriate products or devices for patients' home care; and provide other health care education, as necessary.
Perform prophylaxis in the absence of periodontal disease or gingivitis.
Perform full mouth debridement, either as a first stage gingivitis therapy or to remove interfering calculus to further enable a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Perform root planning as a periodontal therapy.
Placement and removal of periodontal packs.
Place locally administered antibiotics as supportive periodontal therapy.
Implement irrigation and desensitizing procedures or products as adjunctive to periodontal therapy.
Ability to take digital dental x-rays (intraoral and extraoral).
Apply cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides.
Bonding for pit and fissure sealants.
Removal of temporary and permanent cement.
Make recommendations as to patients' recare interval and follow-up needs.
All other duties and responsibilities as assigned and allowed under applicable state laws and regulations.