Grace Health·Corbin, Kentucky
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Market context
Dental assisting roles in Kentucky are often shaped by steady demand in private practices, clinics, and group offices that need certified support staff. These positions can be competitive because employers commonly look for a Dental Assisting certificate or relevant experience, plus current X-ray and CPR credentials and a team-oriented approach. Before applying, compare the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here with the original posting to confirm fit and save research time.
