Dental Hygienist, RDH

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assesses dental condition and needs of patient; uses patient screening procedures, to include medical history review, dental charting, and perio charting; takes patient vital signs as required.
• Delivers direct patient care to patients as assigned, using established dental hygienist procedures; performs routine treatment procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, expose/develop x-rays, patient education, application of sealants and fluorides, and related procedures.
• Develops and implements individualized dental care plans for patients; performs patient education, discharge planning, and patient/family teaching under the supervision of a qualified dentist.
• Provides chair-side assistance to dentist in the performance of special tests, procedures, and complex treatments; makes impressions of patients' teeth for study casts; documents dental history or chief complaint; records and reports pertinent observations and patient reactions to dental staff, as appropriate; documents lab procedures and ensures follow up on results.
• Makes emergency measures for sudden adverse developments during treatment of patients; provides patient triage and initiates patient care as appropriate for walk-in patients; assists in preparation of patient care areas, and in the patient admission, transfer, and discharge process, as required.
• Assists with or institutes emergency measures for sudden adverse developments during treatment of patients; prepares reports and assists as required with patient reception, telephone calls, routine triage, and other office duties.
• Scrubs instruments and prepares them for autoclaving; sanitizes and disinfects operatory, sharpens instruments, and restocks with necessary materials, instruments, and supplies; writes prescriptions for endorsement by the dentist and calls them into pharmacy.
• Trades emergency patients for the dentist; participates in site and organizational quality assurance and improvement; performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor’s or Associate’s Degree in Dental Hygiene; two years of experience in a clinic or community health setting is preferred; bi-lingual English/Spanish is preferred.
• Licenses/Certifications Required: Current licensure as a Dental Hygienist in the State of New Mexico; NM Board Certified (Registered); anesthesia license – board certified; CPR certification required within 6 months of hire.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: Knowledge of Federal, State, and institutional regulations and guidelines for the provision of dental outpatient services; knowledge of patient screening, charting, and medical history procedures and documentation; ability to independently assess the nature and extent of dental, periodontic, and associated conditions and pathology in dental outpatients; ability to perform a full range of established dental hygienist protocol and procedures; ability to analyze medical records and prescribed protocol to formulate effective therapeutic treatment plans; ability to communicate technical information to non-technical personnel; ability to set up and prepare dental equipment and instrumentation in accordance with established regulations and guidelines; knowledge and understanding of dental surgery and associated procedures, terminology, and techniques; ability to independently perform emergency dental procedures; knowledge of patient admission, triage, transfer, and discharge procedures and documentation; knowledge and familiarity with compliance program. Cooperate fully and comply with laws and regulations.