SUMMARY:

Care Delivery

• Provide dental hygiene treatment to children and adults in a primary care setting.
• Perform dental prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, periodontal maintenance, gross debridement, and take necessary radiographs.
• Apply preventive agents such as fluoride and sealants to the tooth surfaces and assist dentist, as required, in further treatment of teeth and periodontium.
• Full / Complete Periodontal Exam.
• Chart conditions for further diagnosis and treatment by dentist and for proper patient record maintenance.
• Administer local anesthetic agents
• Maintain dental equipment, sharpen and manage instruments.
• Maintain standards of infection control

 Patient Experience

• Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain the oral health of patients
• Record and review patient medical histories
• Introduce and monitor patient self-management goals
• Serve as a member of the cross-functional team of providers, engaged in routine and preventive dental care.
• Flexibility in meeting patient needs, and able to work evenings and Saturday clinics

Office Management

• Report accurately all procedures to billing staff for proper billing to patient or third party payers
• Inventory supplies needed for patient care and manage equipment maintenance and repair.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Minimum Job Requirements:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and adherence to safety rules and professional standards
• Knowledge of Infection Control Standards and adherence to recommended practices
• Knowledge of evidence based approaches to dental care
• Cultural competence working in diverse/low income communities

Abilities

• Ability to convey information effectively
• Ability to considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one
• Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects
• Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer)

Experience And Other Certifications

• California State License to practice as a Registered Dental Hygienist
• One to four years of dental hygienist experience working in primary care clinic setting
• High degree of interpersonal competence with both staff and patients

Language Skill:

• Must possess excellent organization, writing, and verbal skills
• English proficiency required; Spanish proficiency preferred

Reasoning ability:

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Equipment/Machinery:

Fax machine, copier, computer, telephone, EHR/EDR system, small dental equipment, sterilization equipment and other software and instruments as required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Stand and walk or sit alternatively depending on specific needs of day. Estimate 30% of time is spent on feet and 70% sitting at desk and/or chairside.
2. Have occasional need to perform the following physical activities: bend/stoop/squat, climb stairs, push or pull, reach above shoulders.
3. Have occasional need to perform standing and walking activities.
4. Constant need to perform the following physical activities: writing/typing, grasping/turning, finger dexterity.
5. Lifting/carrying over 20 pounds occasionally. Lifting/carrying less than 10 pounds frequently.
6. Vision requirements: constant need to complete forms, read reports, view computer screen. Frequent need to see small detail. Frequent need to see things clearly beyond arm's reach.
7. Hearing requirements: constant need to communicate over telephone and in person.

Travel Requirements:

 **May be required to travel to and work at other MCHWC locations including the Mobile Dental Van.