Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner

POSITION SUMMARY :

The Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner is responsible for performing dental measures designed to preserve teeth and prevent the spread of oral disease, providing education services, and maintaining records of dental treatment without direct supervision of a dentist. The position may include community-outreach and require travel.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES-

Performs dental measures designed to preserve teeth and prevent the spread of oral disease by performing the following duties without authorization, assignment, or examination by a dentist :

• Performs topical fluoride treatments
• Screens and evaluates patients for dental caries, periodontal disease, and medical history
• Performs supra and sub-gingival scaling and curettage; performs root planning
• Performs gross debridement in treatment of acute periodontal conditions
• Conditioning of teeth for and application of dental sealants
• Initiates dental prevention / dental education
• Performs oral cancer screenings
• Analyzes dental records and formulates effective therapeutic treatment plans
• Performs oral radiography
• Provides timely responses to patient and NSCHC employee inquiries
• Assists in training of dental assistants and new dental hygienists
• Completes thorough and timely clinical documentation in EMR
• Refers each patient to a licensed dentist on an annual basis and maintains documentation of the referral in patient's dental record
• Consistently practices universal precautions
• Participates in health promotion, education, prevention programs
• Administers local anesthesia by regional injection in accordance with Pa. Code 33.115
• Maintains instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selecting instruments
• Assists in ordering dental supplies and materials
• Provides reminders of next hygiene visit to patients and manages clinic's recall system
• Travels to Health Center's satellite office to provide dental services and transports necessary equipment and instruments for these services
• Responsible for all care and cleaning of dental equipment and service facility area at satellite clinic and off-site
• Collaborates with medical and behavioral health staff to provide interdisciplinary care to patients
• Assists with emergency measures for sudden adverse developments during treatment of patients
• Performs all other related duties as assigned and reacts positively to change

Meets professional behavior expectations as evidenced by compliance with the following standards :

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / EXPERIENCE-

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / DEMANDS-