Dental Hygienist - Southwest Montana Community Health Center

• The ability to carry out functions of a Dental Hygienist, as described by the MT Department of Occupational Licensing and this document
• The ability to operate a computer system and apply basic computer skills
• The ability to become proficient in the use of computerized imaging and electronic dental record program
• The ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff
• Possess and apply the skills necessary to effectively treat patients of all age groups, regardless of special needs of patient
• Perform duties in a manner that is both professional and compassionate
• Apply knowledge in a manner that allows the needs of each provider and therefore each patient to be met

• Requires a strong commitment prioritizing patient care through excellent attendance
• Provides direct patient care by providing prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, sealants, patient education, perio-examinations, perio-scaling and root planing, application of desensitizing medication, oral cancer examination, providing local anesthesia, and other procedures as directed by dentist
• Coordinates with front office to ensure that appointment slots are filled when there are cancelations, etc. 
• Assesses patient’s medical history
• Provides treatment and education to patients with the goal of controlling and preventing oral health disease such as caries and periodontal disease
• Takes and records vital signs prior to treatment, when necessary
• Records diagnosis, procedural codes, treatment notes, and treatment plans in the patient chart following internal policies, procedures, and timelines
• Provides patient with necessary education, including pre- and post-operative instructions
• Sterilizes and maintains instruments and supplies according to clinic policy
• Prepares operatory appropriately for each patient
• Assists as needed including seating patients, anesthetizing, answering phones, making and confirming appointments, and assisting with the flow of the office without direction
• Acts as a SWMTCHC liaison and representative by providing community oral health education and services off site to include schools, senior centers, and organizations as needed

• Ability to report to work on time and as scheduled with minimal unplanned absences
• Competent in dealing with racially and ethnically diverse populations
• Knowledge of medications used in conjunction with dental hygiene work
• Knowledge of health record keeping and dental charting
• Knowledge of OSHA Blood borne Pathogen Standards and adherence to safety standards
• Basic computer skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Related occupations
• Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Flexibility of Closure — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Perceptual Speed — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Time Sharing — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
• Visual Color Discrimination — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Ability to educate patients across the lifespan in all aspects of oral hygiene including consequences and treatment options for periodontal disease 

• Practices with the scope of education, training, and personal capabilities
• Maintains confidentiality
• Follows federal, state and local legal guidelines; follows license criteria when licensure applies
• Maintains HIPAA & OSHA compliance
• Reports any evidence of abuse or neglect to provider or appropriate official

Southwest Montana Community Health Center is a mission-driven, non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHCs are community-based healthcare providers that receive funding from the Federal government to provide comprehensive primary care services in underserved areas. FQHCs provide care to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay, and offer a sliding fee discount based on income. FQHCs must meet certain requirements to receive funding, such as providing services to medically underserved areas or populations, offering a comprehensive set of primary care services, and having a governing board that includes patients.Southwest Montana Community Health Center is a recognized National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). PCMH designation is gained by meeting certain standards set by the NCQA. These standards include providing comprehensive, coordinated care, using evidence-based practices, and engaging patients in their care. Community health centers that receive PCMH designation are recognized for providing high-quality, patient-centered care that improves health outcomes and reduces costs. PCMH is our model of primary care that emphasizes care coordination, communication, and patient engagement to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. The PCMH model encourages providers to work as a team to coordinate and manage care for patients, provide timely access to care, and use evidence-based practices to improve outcomes. The PCMH model also emphasizes the importance of patient engagement, providing patients with the tools and resources they need to take an active role in their own health care.We opened our doors in 1986 under the name Butte-Silver Bow Primary Healthcare Clinic Inc. Our main clinic is in Butte, Montana, and we have locations in Dillon and Anaconda, Montana. We offer medical, dental, behavioral health, care management, pharmacy, and clinical pharmacy services to everyone. We accept most insurances and private-pay clients, as well as uninsured or underinsured clients. Our passion is to ensure that healthcare remains accessible and affordable to everyone.Our clinics care for more than 13,000 patients annually and employs more than 150 people in our various locations.