Katahdin Valley Health Center - Dover-Foxcroft

Job Description

Katahdin Valley Health Center
Job Description
Dental Hygienist

Reports To: Dental Practice Manager
Status: Hourly
Facility Location: Varies
Hours: Varies

POSITION SUMMARY
The person in this role will perform primary dental hygiene and assist the dentist in providing quality dental care. The Hygienist will work as part of the dental care team and ensure effective and quality dental care is given to KVHC patients. This person will aid in coordination and implementation of dental care programs and patient education.

RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Review of daily schedule and/or processing of systems and requests.
2. Interview patients and record complete medical and dental histories.
3. Take and record the vital signs of blood pressure, when needed.
4. Perform oral inspections, recording all conditions that should be called to the attention of the dentist.
5. Perform complete periodontal and dental restorative charting.
6. Expose and process radiographs.
7. Perform pulp test pursuant to the direction of a dentist.
8. Perform all procedures necessary for a complete prophylaxis including scaling, root planning and curettage.
9. Apply fluoride to control caries.
10. Apply desensitizing agents to the teeth as needed.
11. Apply liquids, pastes or gel topical anesthetics.
12. Apply sealants, provided that a licensed dentist first makes the determination and diagnosis as to the surfaces on which the sealants shall be applied.
13. Smooth and polish amalgam restorations.
14. Cement pontics and facings outside the mouth.
15. Take impressions of study casts.
16. Take impressions for single-arch athletic mouth guards and for custom fluoride trays.
17. Place and remove rubber dams.
18. Remove sutures and periodontal dressings.
19. Perform post-operative irrigation or surgical sites.
20. Place temporary restorations as an emergency procedure, provided that the patient is informed of the temporary nature of the filling and the dentist consulted.
21. Isolate operative fields.
22. Sterilize and prepare instruments and assist the dentist chair side, as needed.
23. Maintain adequate level of dental hygiene supplies to ensure efficient operation.
24. Provide general periodic maintenance of all dental hygiene equipment, including X-ray developing equipment, to ensure proper functioning.
25. As directed, explain the use of prescription medications and their side effects.
26. Performs additional duties or projects as assigned by the Dental Practice Manager.

27. Adheres to all KVHC policies and protocols.
28. Complies with all safety rules and protocols. Reports all incidents, regardless of severity, immediately to their supervisor and completes an incident report and investigation form, which will be forwarded to Human Resources within 24 hours of the incident.
29. Conducts themselves as a good steward in the communities served by KVHC; represents the organization at outreach activities as needed.
30. Actively participates as committee member as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.
31. Interacts harmoniously and effectively with others. Focusing on the attainment of organization goals and objectives through a commitment to team work.
32. Conforms to acceptable attendance and punctuality standards as expressed in the employee handbook.
33. Abides by the organization’s compliance program and requirements
34. At times you may be faced with challenges that may impact patient care. Addressing these challenges may not be in your job description, however Katahdin Valley Health Center encourages each team member to go above and beyond to address the patients’ needs in the moment. Employees have the autonomy to see the care experience through from A to Z to show our patients KVHC C.A.R.E.S.
35. The employee may be responsible for traveling to multiple locations as specified in their job offer and/or contract.

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS
1. Admit mistakes or missteps openly, own your own behavior, forgive one another, and model vulnerability and humility.
2. Keep discussions about team members, subordinates, and colleagues as well as challenges in the workplace, positive, constructive, and factual.
3. Be mindful of employee confidentiality even among peers, and particularly where an issue involves a peer.
4. Only say what you would be willing to say to someone directly.
5. Whenever possible, speak directly to the person with whom you are having a disagreement or a challenge. Challenge yourself to engage in these discussions. Do not avoid constructive conflict.
6. Work with your supervisor or HR when you need to process a performance or behavioral situation with a colleague or subordinate to determine next steps.
7. It is always okay, and usually preferable, to pause, and take time to reflect before reacting to a situation.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
1.High School diploma or GED certificate. Or a combination of education and experience.
2. Maine registered Dental Hygienist license. Maine registered Radiology license.
3. Three to five years’ experience preferred but not required.
4. Ability to work with public and other medical and health providers.
5. Ability to maintain quality control standards.
6. Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.

7. Knowledge of the professional medical practice and care to give and evaluate patient care.
8. Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment.
9. Skill in taking medical and dental history, assessing dental condition and interpreting findings.
10. Must possess a clean criminal and DHHS background.
11. Must possess the ability and means to travel between clinics as needed.
12. Valid State of Maine Driver’s license and ability to be insured by KVHC’s vehicle insurance carrier.

FUNCTION, DEMANDS AND PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE
Requires full range of body motion with the ability to bend, kneel and stoop. Must possess: the ability to sit and or stand for long periods of time, the ability to lift approximately 50 lbs., visual acuity with color vision, the ability to communicate effectively and calmly in a professional manner, the ability to follow all workplace policies including safety and confidentiality, the ability to perform repetitive motion keyboarding functions, exposure to communicable disease, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to clinic environment. Knowledge of organizational policies, regulations, and procedures to administer patient care. Must possess the ability to work with and around medical equipment and instruments safely and effectively as appropriate. Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment including Safety Data Sheets. Skill in preparing and maintaining records, writing reports, and responding to correspondence. Skill in developing and maintaining department quality assurance. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, and the public. Ability to maintain quality control standards. Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergencies. Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures. Ability to communicate clearly.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF PATIENT INFORMATION AND ALL KVHC HEALTH CENTER BUSINESS IS ESSENTIAL. EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLY WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996-PUBLIC LAW 104-191

Other Details

Job ID: 691eec2f-7390-40ea-a6fe-ea8cc874ca7b

Practice Type: Employee

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Open to Search Firm Solicitations: No