Hygienist - TX Killeen Full Time

Coast Dental•Killeen, TX

About The Position

Registered Dental Hygienists provide licensed dental hygiene services and work with dentists to deliver hygiene, periodontal, and dental care. The RDH assesses patients’ oral health, develops periodontal treatment plans based on a dentist’s diagnosis, performs preventive and periodontal procedures, and educates patients about oral and overall health. The role is performed in a clean, well-lit dental office. It requires strict adherence to radiological procedures and infection-control protocols, as well as use of appropriate personal protective equipment during patient care and when handling contaminated instruments or equipment. Open-toe shoes are forbidden; long hair must be pulled back, and fingernails must be kept short and tidy.

Requirements

Must be licensed and in good standing with the state of Texas.
Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate.
Willingness to partner with the dentist and work well as part of the dental team.
Visual acuity and manual dexterity to use dental instruments in a patient’s mouth with little room for error.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ teeth, bone, and periodontal tissues for abnormalities or suspected diseases or conditions.
Create periodontal treatment plans based on the dentist’s diagnosis.
Bring suspected lesions in the mouth or on the teeth to the dentist’s immediate attention.
Remove soft and hard deposits and extrinsic stains from teeth using hand instruments, ultrasonic cavitron inserts, and prophy handpieces.
Teach patients good oral hygiene practices, recommend appropriate home-care products or devices, and provide other health care education as needed.
Perform prophylaxis when periodontal disease or gingivitis is absent.
Perform full-mouth debridement as an initial stage of gingivitis therapy or to remove calculus that interferes with accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Perform scaling and root planing as periodontal therapy.
Place locally administered antibiotics as supportive periodontal therapy.
Perform irrigation and desensitizing procedures or use products as adjuncts to periodontal therapy.
Position and expose dental and carpal radiographic film and sensors.
Perform in-office whitening procedures, including applying and curing gel and completing subsequent applications.
Apply cavity-preventive agents, including fluorides and pit and fissure sealants.
Recommend patient recall intervals and follow-up needs.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned and allowed under applicable Texas state laws and regulations.