Dental Hygienist

Position Description

The Hygienist provides quality oral health care services to all patients, emphasizing the prevention and treatment of disease. The role of a Hygienist in a community health center setting is to respond to all peoples’ need for accessible quality oral care regardless of socioeconomic status.

The health conditions include common, complex and/or advanced orally related diseases needing continued supervision of the prescribed treatment plan. The Hygienist practices independently and interdependently by collaborating with the dental team.

Qualifications, Education, and Experience

1. Licensed Dental Hygienist (LDH) or Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH).

2. Maintain current license to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

3. Must be qualified in Basic Life Support techniques.

Essential Functions

1. Provides outpatient care in the Community Health Center, including securing health histories and pertinent information from patients, initial examination of the teeth and oral structures, and performs dental procedures as prescribed.

2. Assesses and recommends an individualized periodontal plan of treatment for each patient to the supervising dentist and explains the dentist prescribed treatment plan to each patient.

3. Removes calculus, stain, and plaque supragingivally as well as subgingivally. Applies fluoride and sealants, records periodontal probing depths, polishes teeth.

4. Places medications to patients as prescribed by the dentist and in accordance with Virginia Dental Laws.

5. Implements dental practice in accordance with organizational policies, Federal guidelines and ADA professional standards. Complies fully with approved infection control standards.

6. Practices using exposure control measures in the dental department.

7. Complies with documentation requirements of the performance improvement system and clinical tracking systems. Submits documentation required by the administration.

8. Supports outreach and educational projects operated by the organization and provides health consultation to community groups as occasions arise and schedules permit.

9. Participates in the marketing of the dental practice to the community.

10. Meets or exceeds all productivity expectations of the Dental Director. Participates in the development of the annual UDS reporting requirements to HRSA.