The dental hygienist provides comprehensive oral health care, including cleanings, screenings, and treatment planning within an integrated primary care team. They also supervise dental assistants, maintain infection control compliance, and participate in community health outreach programs.
Requirements summary
Candidates must be graduates of an accredited dental hygiene school and hold an active, unrestricted dental hygiene license in Kentucky. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required, and at least one year of experience is preferred.
The dental hygienist is a care team member working from a patient-centered medical home model in an integrated primary care setting with unique responsibilities that touch all aspects regarding the oral health of patient care. The dental hygienist embraces a team-based approach and is competent to function as an integral part of the patient oral health care team. Hygienists in this position can function in all care team job roles to provide high quality, comprehensive dental care.
Essential
DUTIES
AND
Responsibilities:
Communication: Conveys information accurately and efficiently. Written communication is direct, concise, and easy to understand. Ability to speak clearly and concisely.
Decision-making: Gathers necessary information to make good and timely decisions. Uses sound judgment and instincts.
Directing others/Delegation: Assesses other staff member abilities and provides coaching and recognition.
Planning/Priority setting: Organizes tasks and objectives in order of importance, timing, and predicted results. Works within measurable goals and outcomes.
Problem solving: Works systematically to solve problems. Develops reasonable and timely resolutions.
Initiative
Takes prompt action to accomplish objectives. Seeks to resolve problems without being asked.
Key
Functions: Provides team leading/building, direction, or supervision to clinic dental assistants. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks to completion. Monitors patient flow and assists with administrative functions as appropriate, which often require the use of a computer. Receives telephone calls with dental questions, answers patient questions, and gives directions to patients as authorized by the dentist. Plans care by reviewing schedules and charts to pro-actively prepare for patient encounters. Assists with Language Live. Assists Dental Infection Control Coordinator to support a compliant, safe work environment. Maintains all dental department areas in compliance with dental department protocols relative to infection control, exposure control, and safety issues. Follows CDC and OSHA guidelines for safety and infection control, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment and Universal Precautions. Follows proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with state and federal regulations. Ability to operate all types of dental equipment and machinery. Completes preparation and maintenance of dental equipment, instruments, and supplies including sharpening and sterilization. Maintains adequate inventory of supplies for ordering purposes. Completes initial dental hygiene examinations, periodontal evaluations, and oral cancer screenings. Promotes oral health and disease prevention through dental education and clinical measures. Performs oral health interventions in a professional, competent manner. Maintains competency in skills and stays current with professional practice guidelines. Maintains strong knowledge base in oral health disease process. Facilitates dental diagnosis and treatment recommendations as advised by dentist. Creates treatment plans to maintain or restore oral health of our patients while incorporating their desires and needs. Provides dental cleanings, including prophylaxis, SRP, and general debridement, to remove plaque or tartar build up, calculus, and stains from teeth. Performs independent procedures as delegated under the direction of the dentist in accordance with state regulation, law, and dental clinic protocol. Applies protective materials to teeth such as sealants and fluorides when indicated. Performs and develops dental x-rays according to state regulations and law, as well as dental clinic directive and protocol. Obtains dental impressions/records as requested by dentist. Performs proper, safe administration of local anesthesia, if applicable. Performs functions related to clerical duties, progress notes, encounter forms, appointment schedule, referrals, and internal reports. Completes treatment notes in a professional, inclusive, and timely manner. May assist Dentist in restorative or surgical dentistry. Participates in Grace Health Outreach health promotion/disease prevention activities, both on-site and off-site as required. Supports and assists special community oriented dental care programs. Ability to operate an electronic dental records software system, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, text paging, Internet, and Intranet. Knowledgeable of clinical quality measures and preventive health maintenance recommendations. Understands population health and works collaboratively with health care team to promote health and wellness. Travel to other clinic sites to meet operational needs, including our school-based health programs. Participate in dental and organizational meetings. Other duties as assigned.
Benefits
Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Paid time off
Life insurance
Employee assistance program
Short term disability
Voluntary benefits
Health savings account
Long term disability
Wellness program
Hospital indemnity
Pharmacy benefit
Safe harbor 401(k) with match potential
Employee visits for medical services
Work life services
Qualification
REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to assist in advancing Grace Health’s mission and to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
SKILLS: Communication Computer/Technology Conflict resolution Customer service Team building Time management
Critical thinking
Leadership
EDUCATION and/or
EXPERIENCE: Graduate of accredited school of dental hygiene Active, unrestricted, dental hygiene license in state of Ky Preferred 1 year of experience Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required Participates in continued education Local Anesthesia and General Supervision permits preferred
Benefits
Safe harbor 401(k) with match potential Paid time off Family friendly work environment Health insurance Wellness program Health savings account Pharmacy benefit Employee visits for medical services Dental insurance Vision insurance Life Insurance STD/LTD EAP & Work life services Voluntary benefits Hospital indemnity Grace Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
