Registered Dental Hygienist

Bullhook Community Health Center•Havre, MT

About The Position

The Registered Dental Hygienist provides direct oral hygiene care and appropriate preventive services to the center’s dental patients, along with oral health information and education to individuals and groups. Bullhook Community Health Center is a National Health Service Corps Provider designated site. The hygienist assesses patients’ oral hygiene, maintains accurate dental records, provides counseling and clinical services such as prophylaxis, scaling, sealant application, and fluoride application, and coordinates hygiene care with other healthcare professionals. The role also includes community health education and technical assistance when requested, maintaining a safe and compliant clinical environment, traveling when operationally necessary, and completing other related tasks as directed.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of dental hygiene.
Unrestricted license to practice oral hygiene in the State of Montana.
Current CPR (BLS) certification.
Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with fellow healthcare providers.
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
Ability to maintain appropriate clinical privileges.
FTCA coverage or private professional malpractice insurance must be obtainable.
Comprehensive knowledge of oral hygiene care in outpatient settings.
Knowledge of the principles and practice of modern oral hygiene and periodontal patient care.
Awareness of public health, social, and economic factors affecting patients’ overall and oral health.
Ability to work creatively with healthcare professionals from varied disciplines and to solve problems through individual or programmatic action.

Responsibilities

Assist in the oral health management of clinic patients and obtain baseline oral hygiene assessment data using accepted principles of oral hygiene and periodontal care.
Document and maintain accurate dental records reflecting the nature of the patient’s presenting condition at the time of treatment.
Provide oral health education and appropriate individual counseling to dental patients.
Provide clinical oral hygiene services, including dental prophylaxis, scaling, sealant application, and fluoride application, in accordance with professional standards, state law, and center protocols.
Integrate appropriate dental hygiene care with other healthcare professionals involved in patients’ care.
Provide technical assistance and health education in the community when requested.
Perform independent procedures as delegated and directed by a dentist, consistent with state law, regulations, and department protocols.
Maintain Dental Department areas in compliance with infection control, exposure control, safety, and center policies.
Dispose of contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with department directives, center policies, and applicable regulations.
Comply with the center’s Exposure Control Plan and applicable rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures governing dental hygiene practice, personnel matters, workplace safety, public health, and confidentiality.
Travel when necessary to meet operational needs.
Perform other related or necessary tasks as directed by a supervisor to achieve organizational and programmatic goals.