Dental Hygienist

I.  JOB SUMMARY:

The Dental Hygienist is responsible for providing professional oral health and maintenance to program participants. 

1. II.  ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES:
2. Prepares treatment room for patient by adhering to prescribed procedures and protocols.
3. Prepares patient for dental hygiene treatment by welcoming and preparing patient.
4. Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
5. Maintains instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selecting instruments.
6. Selects materials and equipment for dental hygiene visit by evaluating patient's oral health.
7. Completes dental prophylaxis by cleaning deposits and stains from teeth and from beneath gum margins.
8. Detects disease by completing oral cancer screening; feeling and visually examining gums; using probes to locate periodontal disease and to assess levels of recession; exposing and developing radiographic studies.
9. Arrests dental decay by applying fluorides and other cavity- preventing agents.
10. Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drugs and oxygen supply, and directory of emergency numbers.
11. Educates patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions and postoperative instructions; providing reminders of time of next dental hygiene visit.
12. Documents dental hygiene services by recording vital signs and medical and dental histories; charting in patient records.
13. Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
14. Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
15. Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
16. Ensures operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements.
17. Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.
18. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

IV.  WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work environment characteristics 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. 

The Dental Hygienist works in settings of BP, including offices, classrooms, group rooms as well as being involved in other areas of BP programs both on and off campus. 

III.  QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience Must be a licensed and registered Dental Hygienist in the State of Florida. One to three years of related experience with proficiency in Microsoft Office and other database applications.