Dental Hygienist - Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc

Job Title: Dental Hygienist

Reports To: Director of Dental Services

Job Summary: Provides a high standard of preventative dental services.

Qualifications and Requirements:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Job duties may be modified at any time based on business needs.

Essential Job Duties:

• Performs dental services that maintain patients' preventative oral health standards, such as perio program, gingival maintenance, and fluoride varnish pediatric program.

• Performs routine treatment procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, x-rays, application of sealants and fluorides, and related procedures.

• Develops and implements individualized dental care plans in collaboration with dentists.

• Provides patient education on procedures and ongoing dental care.
• Documents and reports dental history or chief complaint, pertinent observations, and patient reactions to dental staff, as appropriate.
• Assists in patient admission, transfer, and discharge, and preparation of patient care areas.
• Prepares reports and assists with patient reception, telephone calls, routine triage, and other office duties.

• Sets up and prepares dental equipment and instrumentation.

• Maintains an active recall system.
• Schedules follow up appointments.
• Participates in providing regular and meaningful peer review and feedback to other dental providers.

• Provides dental hygienist services at any site within CCHCI's network.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications - Education, Experience, Certificates & Licenses:

• Graduate from an accredited Dental Hygiene Program with an Associate's Degree of Science in Dental Hygiene.
• Current Arizona license as a Registered Dental Hygienist
• Current CPR certification.
• Local Anesthetic Certificate.

• Driver's License and Proof of Insurance may be required if requesting mileage reimbursement.

• Participates in continuing medical/dental education programs to maintain professional competence and skills.
• Valid Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Preferred Education, Experience, Certificates & Licenses:

• Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene preferred.
• Clinical experience preferred.

Required Language Skills:

• Ability to comprehend and compose effective instructions, correspondence and communications in English in both oral and written format.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to patients, internal providers and staff and other agency staff working in cooperation with the organization.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical personnel.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to frequently exert enough force to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to continuously remain in a stationary position.
• Ability to constantly move about inside the workplace to assist patients, operate office or dental equipment, etc.
• Possesses hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to constantly operate computer, telephone and other office machinery and dental equipment.
• Possesses close visual acuity necessary to accurately record and view information on a computer monitor, handwritten and typed documents.
• Ability to discern the nature of sounds at a normal spoken volume.
• Possesses a range of body motion and ability to exert enough force to lift and move adult and pediatric patients.

Other Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to perform math that may include the use of ratio/proportion, dosage calculation, metric and household equivalents, roman numerals, abbreviations, and general math including percentages, etc.
• Ability to draw and interpret graphs.
• Ability to skillfully gather and analyze data.
• Ability to perform a variety of assignments and make decisions requiring considerable independent judgment.
• Ability to resolve challenges and work under pressure.
• Displays a high level of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of HIPAA and Corporate Compliance rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and institutional regulations and guidelines for the provision of dental outpatient services.
• Knowledge and understanding of dental surgery and associated procedures, terminology, and techniques.
• Knowledge of Dental health plans and community health centers.
• Computer literacy required.
• Knowledge of Electronic Health/Dental Records and dental x-ray software preferred.
• Ability to independently assess the nature and extent of dental, periodontal, and associated conditions and pathology in dental outpatients.
• Ability to analyze medical records and prescribed protocol to formulate effective treatment plans.
• Ability to prioritize and plan work activities, use time efficiently and develop realistic action plans.

Work Environment & Conditions:

• Work environment is typical of a health clinic setting with occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids and hazardous chemicals.
• Work occasionally involves use of needles and other dental equipment with proximity to electrical current, exposure to moving mechanical parts, and some hazardous chemicals.
• Work requires reliable transportation as position requires occasional travel and extended hours to include early mornings, evenings, and weekends.
• Work requires the ability to be contacted by cell phone during or outside of regular work hours.