Dental Hygienist

About the Organization

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a nonprofit health care organization whose mission is to provide exceptional health care to people facing access barriers through clinical programs and education. We provide integrated health care services including medical, dental, and behavioral health through our 20 outpatient health centers. Our organization has over 800 employees and serves more than 74,300 patients annually in the Pikes Peak and East Central regions of Colorado, covering 14 counties from the front range to the Kansas border, with locations in Colorado Springs, Fountain, Divide, Limon, and Strasburg. Peak Vista is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC).

About the Role

Provide high-quality, culturally appropriate, prevention-focused dental care while helping to create and maintain an effective dental practice that meets the needs of the target population. Serve as a clinical and organizational leader by contributing to the smooth, efficient operation of the dental department, site, and organization. Performance is measured through quarterly progress reviews and an annual formal evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Maintain own dental hygienist practice as defined by Peak Vista guidelines.
• Screening and evaluating patients about caries risk, periodontal pathology, and medical history.
• Providing clinical services, including selecting, exposing, and processing of digital radiographs, prophylaxes, supra and sub gingival scaling and curettage, root planning, and procedures involving team periodontal surgical techniques, according to Peak Vista guidelines.
• Providing preventative clinical and educational services, including proper oral hygiene home care techniques, tooth brushing, flossing, nutrition, need for professional care, and topical fluorides.
• Administration of local anesthetics and gross debridement in treatment of acute periodontal conditions.
• Performance of expanded duties where qualified, as delegated by dentist and governed by Colorado law.
• Co-located Hygiene Services in Medical Clinic:
  • Primarily responsible for the initiation and maintenance of the dental prevention and dental education program in an integrated medical setting, working with both medical and dental team members for coordination.
  • Accurately and appropriately assesses risk, application of fluoride treatments, and dissemination of oral health education to patients, parents, and children in the medical setting in one-on-one visits or in group visits.
  • Identification of and assistance in patient establishment of a dental home.
  • Travel between medical and dental clinic sites may be required.
• Maximize community linkages while acting as advocate for patients.
• Exhibit positive leadership skills, actively striving to improve patient and staff experience of Peak Vista, as well as strong communication skills.
• Effective use of the electronic dental record (EDR), electronic medical record (EMR), registries, dental radiology, dental intraoral/extraoral imaging, and templates.
• Work in coordination with dentists, other dental team members, and medical team members to effectively manage patient care and develop clinical guidelines within scope of dental hygiene practice.
• Maintain a safe work environment by remaining informed of and compliant with the clinic’s safety policies, and by application of safe practices in area of own responsibility.
• Compliance:
  • Knowledgeable of and compliant with laws and regulations governing area of responsibility.
  • Responsible for reporting on any potentially non-compliant conduct.
  • Cooperates fully with our Compliance Officer in upholding our Compliance Plan.
• Leadership and modeling of Peak Vista values.

Requirements

• Graduation from an approved School of Dental Hygiene.
• Possession of a current Colorado license as a registered dental hygienist.
• Certification to administer local anesthesia.
• Sensitivity to low income and ethnic minority community.
• Working knowledge of all phases of the field of dental hygiene.
• Skill in the techniques of oral hygiene procedures and the use of equipment, instruments, and materials.
• Basic computer skills required.
• Knowledge and practice of preventative dentistry and ability to instruct patients and staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and staff.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Excellent coaching skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Working Environment

• Risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens.
• Dental operatory and equipment as well as usual office environment with sitting, walking, standing, stooping.
• Ability to travel from clinic to clinic in own vehicle as required.

Pay

$94,411 to $112,732 annually, based on experience.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life, Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• 403(b) Retirement with Company Match
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Assistance
• Perks Rewards
• Employee Assistance Program

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