Hygienist

Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority•Cherokee, NC

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this position is to serve as Dental Hygienist to provide dental hygiene services to the designated population. The purpose of the work is to perform the necessary dental hygiene treatment in an efficient and professional manner, meeting the diverse health and social needs of the patient population. The Dental Hygienist will perform all aspects of dental hygiene including dental prophylaxis on adult and pediatric patients as well as scaling/root planning on patients with periodontal disease in all stages. The Dental Hygienist shall work in conjunction with the Dentists to take quality x-rays and assist the Dentist with periodic, comprehensive and limited exams. The Dental Hygienist shall take accurate periodontal measurements on patients and record appropriately to facilitate proper diagnosis of patient’s periodontal conditions by the Dentist. The Dental Hygienist will document clinical observations and treatment as well as adhere to industry standards and ensure proper compliance with federal, local and state laws. Emphasis shall be placed on implementing a preventive dental health program to include oral health and hygiene education, dental screening and fluoride varnish application, providing preventive care, providing definitive treatment, and following treatment provided. The Dental Hygienist shall be expected to utilize the current data tracking system to track, recall, and evaluate services based on individual patient need and caries risk recalls in accordance with ADA, IHS and public health guidelines. The ideal Dental Hygienist for this position will have exceptional technical skills as well as the ability to connect with patients to provide caring treatment within the mission of the CIHA.

Requirements

Must be a graduate of an accredited dental hygiene program with a degree in dental hygiene.
Must have current license to practice dental hygiene in North Carolina.
The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain all certification and education requirements to annually renew their NC dental hygiene license.
Knowledge of the dental hygiene sciences including the principles, practices, and procedures of dental hygiene to conduct and coordinate preventive dental health activities, perform specialized oral hygiene care, and develop instructional material and guidelines for standardizing the delivery of preventive care.
Knowledge of the clinic's medical and dental services, the characteristics and needs of the patient population, and the resources available in order to develop and carry out the preventive dentistry program.
Skill in planning and presenting dental hygiene lectures, demonstrations, and instruction using knowledge of dental hygiene sciences and practices including effective techniques of motivation and behavior change.
Knowledge of the methods and techniques in developing and disseminating dental health education information to the public.
Demonstrate oral and written communication skills.
Ability to utilize various computer programs.
Knowledge of OSHA, CDC, EPA and state regulations in order to insure safety for self and others.
Must adhere to all tribal guidelines, EBCI and CIHA policies and procedures for working with confidential data.
An above average degree of discretion is required while handling patient and related medical information.
Maintains confidentiality of all administrative, medical and personnel records, and all other pertinent information that come to his/her attention of knowledge.
Must have visual acuity, manual dexterity, and the ability to speak and hear.
Long periods of sitting, walking, standing, and bending are necessary.

Nice To Haves

Meeting qualification as a Public Health Hygienist in the state of NC will increase the value of this employee to the CIHA Dental clinic.
Experience in planning and implementing dental health programs preferred.

Responsibilities

Administers oral prophylactic and dental hygiene treatments to patients presenting with a variety of periodontal conditions including localized or generalized gingivitis and/or localized or generalized mild/moderate/severe periodontal disease.
Performs additional procedures such as: records medical and dental histories, reviews patient's dietary habits, administers caries prevention agents, desensitizes root surfaces, root planning, takes and pours impressions for study casts, removes sutures, and instructs the patients in home care therapy and proper diet as it relates to oral health.
Coordinates hygiene recalls based on low, moderate and high caries-risk patients in accordance with IHS and public health guidelines as well as the patient’s oral hygiene status.
Plans, coordinates, conducts and evaluates preventive oral health programs for various patient groups such as diabetic, prenatal, cancer, psychiatric, geriatric, alcoholic, and physically handicapped patients.
Develops and revises oral health instructional materials and education techniques for various levels of the mental and physical capabilities of each patient group.
Develops and presents oral health lectures, demonstrations, and visual displays to patient groups, CIHA staff and clinic personnel.
Provides in-service training, as needed to dental and non-dental personnel within the clinic and for other hospital clinics.
Provides dental hygiene services in community based programs.
Develops procedural instructions to be used by dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental aids, dietitians and nutritionists, and the nursing staff in the delivery of oral health care to patients throughout the hospital and other CIHA properties.
Regularly attends clinic and dental staff meetings to make improvements in the oral hygiene program.
Develops, documents and implements dental hygiene policies and procedures.
Evaluates dental hygiene policies and procedures on a yearly regular basis and proposes revisions as needed.
Interprets dental hygiene program policies and procedures and applicable Medicaid and NC state dental hygiene laws and regulations for staff.
Ensure that all pertinent policies are being followed, including those relating to safety and infection control.
Responsible for dental hygiene Quality Assessment and strategic planning (long and short term).
Supports the mission, vision, strategic plan and goals of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority.