Registered Dental Hygienist

About the role

The Registered Dental Hygienist performs professional dental care in the field of dental hygiene including all related clinical procedures. They also engage in community dental health education activities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strict adherence to privacy and confidentiality protocols, ensuring the protection of both patient and employee information in accordance with Spectra Health's policies.
• Promote and embody Spectra Health's core values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Equity, and Inclusivity in all interactions and decision-making processes.
• Foster a culture of safety; proactively addressing hazards, incidents, and security concerns while contributing to a positive and safe work environment for employees and patients.
• Approach teamwork with a positive and collaborative mindset, building strong relationships across departments and sharing knowledge and experiences to enhance overall organizational effectiveness.
• Actively support organizational change, offering solutions, participating in leadership initiatives, and championing efforts that align with Spectra Health's evolving mission and goals.
• Prioritize the best interests of Spectra Health's patients, ensuring quality care and positive outcomes.
• Complete mandatory training requirements and attend at least 80% of departmental meetings to stay informed and aligned with organizational goals and policies.
• Strictly adhere to all Spectra Health policies and procedures, and act as a departmental advocate for Spectra Health's Compliance Program activities.

Essential Job Functions

• Ability to provide oral health assessment, dental prophylaxis including scaling and root planning, and oral hygiene instruction.
• Takes radiographs on patients including bitewing, periapical, occlusal, and panoramic X-ray.
• Performs gross debridement in treatment of acute and chronic periodontal conditions.
• Instructs patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing and flossing techniques, and periodontal aids, which increase the amount of stimulation to the teeth.
• Plans and adapts instructions in home care techniques, tailoring them to the oral hygiene needs and oral problems of individual patients.
• Explains to patients the causes of periodontal disease and tooth decay, and the importance of diet as it relates to oral and systemic health.
• Performs duties where qualified, as delegated by dentist and governed by state law.
• Responsible for the cleaning and sterilization of instruments and disinfecting equipment and work areas.
• Safeguards all patients' health information whether written, verbal, and electronic with privacy and confidentiality.
• Follows all HIPAA Privacy and Security policies and procedures.
• Follows all applicable National Patient Safety Goals in the provision of patient care.
• Assists the rest of the dental team in expediting patient care.
• Attends and participates in program and facility committees as required.
• In collaboration with the Dental Director and Spectra Health Key Management, establish priorities, goals, and objectives for the dental program.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.
• Experience: Two years' experience in dental hygiene preferred. Licensure in North Dakota.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of basic dental terminology and recordkeeping procedures to enter information on patient records; knowledge of the instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures used for oral examinations and general dental care and provide chairside assistance; knowledge of the use, care and storage of dental equipment, materials and instruments; knowledge of latest and most recent sterilization and infection control techniques; knowledge of dental anatomy, related oral anatomy, the technical methods and practices of dentistry, and the working characteristics of dental instruments and materials sufficient to make preparations and provide chairside assistance as may be required; knowledge of oral anatomy, oral physiology and histology, the principles and techniques of preventive dentistry, and the dental instruments and materials to perform a variety of specialized prophylactic and preventive dental hygiene procedures including root-planing and curettage; knowledge of oral pathology and periodontology sufficient to recognize a variety of abnormal conditions such as acute gingivitis, periodontitis, and deep periodontal pockets, and provide the necessary prophylactic and therapeutic and dental hygiene treatment; knowledge of medical diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease as they relate to the care and treatment of the teeth in order to perform bedside prophylaxis, and provide therapeutic dental hygiene procedures and home care instruction to patients.

Physical Requirements

• The Registered Dental Hygienist is a working dental provider. This position requires long periods of time working in a dental operatory, sitting on stools, and leaning over patients. It requires manual dexterity of the hands, keen eyesight, and the ability to communicate with patients. Periodically, the position requires lifting or carrying items that would be appropriate in an office environment, not more than 20lbs.