Registered Dental Hygienist - Spectra Health

JOB TITLE: Registered Dental Hygienist

JOB SUMMARY: The Registered Dental Hygienist performs professional dental care in the field of dental hygiene including all related clinical procedures. Has broad responsibilities for clinical and community dental health education activities. This position reports to the Dental Director.

ORGANIZATIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and comply with regulatory standards.
• Strict adherence for privacy and confidentiality, for both patients and employees of Spectra Health.
• Champion Spectra Health's organizational values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Equity, and Inclusivity.
• Affirm Spectra Health's culture of safety by demonstrating actions and behaviors that consistently contribute to a positive and safe work environment for our employees and guests. (i.e., timely incident reporting, resolving hazards proactively, resolving privacy and security concerns, etc.).
• A positive approach to teamwork, building collaborative positive relationships throughout the organization in order to share knowledge and experience.
• Ability to work independently.
• Be part of the solution, supporting change and participating in activities to promote organizational leadership.
• Make decisions based on what's best for Spectra Health's patients.
• Attend mandatory trainings and attend at least 80% of departmental meetings.
• Adhere to all Spectra Health's policies and procedures and serves as a departmental champion of Spectra Health's Compliance Program activities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Ability to provide oral health assessment, dental prophylaxis including scaling, 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.
• Follow 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.

• Performs other duties as assigned which are appropriate for position quality care improvement, and program requirements.

EXPERIENCE:

• Knowledge of basic dental terminology and recordkeeping procedures.
• Knowledge of the instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures.
• 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 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 planning 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.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.
• Licensure in North Dakota.

Preferred:

• Two years' experience in dental hygiene preferred.
• Experience working in a health center environment.

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.

REMOTE WORK: The Registered Dental Hygienist position is not eligible for full-time or hybrid remote work. For more information about remote work, please see HR Policy 1.28 - Remote Work.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

**Spectra Health provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, sexual orientation, or gender identity.