Registered Dental Hygienist
Job Summary
Healthcare Hygienists hold a very special position in the dental office. They are the frontline of disease prevention.
More and more research links different systemic diseases to oral bacterial; With periodontal disease being so rampant, it is very critical to possess the expertise to property asses, co-diagnose, educate patients, and provide customized treatment based on patients’ needs.
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, the RDH must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Adheres to all required OSHA and health regulations The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. (If additional qualifications are needed, enter them here on a copy of this job description.)
Education and Experience
Minimum of an associate degree in Dental hygiene.
Certificates, Licenses and Registrations
Current RDH license, local anesthetic and Nitrous Oxide certificate, CPR certificate, laser training certificate.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to do detailed work, using arms, hands, and fingers to handle and feel object worked with. The employee intermittently is required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, bend or reach throughout the day. Good eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity is needed. Specific vision abilities include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Must be physically able to administer CPR.
The employee may have to physically assist drowsy patients after anesthesia. May have to lift up to 25 pounds, roll a 90-pound.anesthesia machine and a full 35-gallon drum of expended chemicals on wheels from one area to another.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and risk of radiation. The noise level is usually moderate. Since everyone within the practice works on a time schedule governed by patient’s appointments, the work and general environment can become somewhat hectic at times. Therefore, it is essential that the employee is able to, both physically and emotionally, effectively handle the normal anxieties associated with the job.
Competencies
· Collaborate with coworkers to work as a team to best serve patients.
· Has a desire and ability to work well with the public.
· Is organized, motivated, committed and self-directed.
· Has a positive attitude about the practice, the services provided, and the products recommended to patients.
· Ability to communicate - express thoughts and ideas competently.
· Speaks and writes grammatically correct English.
· Increases knowledge and skills through self-study and by attending courses and seminars.
· Able to understand relevant concepts regarding duties and responsibilities.
· Maintains a professional demeanor in stressful situations.
· Ability to complete tasks within a specific time frame.
· Considers patients comfort an important priority.
· Has dependable job attendance, and can be relied on to follow through with assigned tasks.
· Effective communication skills that allow success when supporting the administrative team in patient reactivation efforts.
Authority - Decide on treatment needed for the present appointment and record treatment information in the patient's chart. Enter type of treatment planned for next appointment and the amount of chair time, doctor time and assistant time needed. Dismiss patients.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities.
Additional or different duties may be assigned from time to time.
Patient Treatment
· Greet and seat patients.
· Create value for the appointment, and build rapport with patients.
· Take blood pressure, review medical history, record any changes in chart notes.
· Perform Intra oral and extra oral cancer screening, perform comprehensive periodontal exam, and take radiographs and intraoral photos.
· Administer nitrous oxide and oxygen as needed.
· Patient education and motivation. Provide customized oral hygiene regimen for each patient. Demonstrate chairside correct brushing and interdental cleaning.
· Evaluate periodontal health, correctly distinguish between preventative, supportive and Therapeutic treatment.
· treatment presentation, discuss any concerns the patient may have.
· Meticulous scaling and root planning skills.
· Recommend periodontal consultation; refer out to specialists as needed.
· Stay current with evident based research.
· Check Appliance (partials, dentures, etc), and provide proper maintenance instructions to patients.
· Reappoint patient and perform appropriate business team handoff.
· Hard tissue assessment
· Assess occlusion, airway.
· Assess patient’s risk for cavities. Create a preventative protocol accordingly.
· Remove cement excess from subgingival surfaces of tooth.
· Myofunctional evaluation.
Patient Education
· Explain disease process and the role of bacteria in caries and periodontal health.
· Provide appropriate educational literature.
· Provide instruction on home care.
· Recommend intraoral aids.
· Evaluate hygiene booklets for patient distribution.
· Explain prevention to patients and parents of small children.
· Reflect and reinforce the doctor's philosophy.
Recording Patient Information
· Update medical history and screen for potential problems every six months, or after a two-year absence.
· Periodontal charting. Chart lesions, existing restorations, and missing teeth.
· Classify periodontal conditions and occlusal relations.
· Counsel patients for case acceptance.
· Inform doctor of any special problems with oral hygiene.
· Assist doctor during clinical exam and record findings and recommendations.
· Record treatment rendered on patient's chart and initial.
· Communicate to the front office: length of time needed for patient's next appointment or recall; when to schedule; what will be done (record on chart and code).
General Duties
· Turn on equipment in the morning and off at night.
· Set up treatment rooms for each patient.
· Seat and dismiss hygiene patients.
· Manage supplies, instruments, and the state of treatment rooms.
· Disinfect patient chair, cuspidor, and counter tops.
· Maintain the cleanliness of hygiene room and the functions of the equipment.
· Clean, sterilize, and set up instruments.
· Sharpen instruments.
· Restock hygiene room.
· Clean and lubricate handpieces.
· File charts and offer assistance to the front office.
· Implement and monitor recall system.
· Call patients who are overdue for recall.
· Help clinical assistant if needed.
· Assist and support the doctor in clinical treatment of patients.
· Call patient if late for appointment. Help fill schedule.
Expanded Functions
A Registered Dental Hygienist may perform the following procedures under direct supervision when authorized to do so by a licensed dentist:
· Take impressions for cast restorations, for space maintainers, orthodontic appliances and guards.
· Temporary stabilization.
· Perform subgingival curettage.
· Remove sutures.
· Place and remove a periodontal pack.
· Remove excess cement from cemented restorations and orthodontic appliances. A dental hygienist may not use a rotary cutting instrument to remove excess cement from restorations or orthodontic appliances
· Apply pit and fissure sealant to the dentition for the prevention of tooth decay.
· Debride periodontal surgery site.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: $48.00 - $60.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Las Vegas, NV: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
License/Certification:
- Registered Dental Hygienist (Preferred)
- Dental License (Preferred)
Work Location: In person