Professional Opportunity: Dental Hygienist

FUNCTION:
Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. The hygienist examines patients’ teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities. Dental hygienists use an assortment of tools to complete their tasks. Hand and rotary instruments and ultrasonic devices are used to clean and polish teeth, including removal of calculus, stains, and plaque. Hygienists use x-ray machines to produce clear x-ray images. They may use models of teeth to explain oral hygiene, perform root planning as a periodontal therapy and apply cavity-preventative agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. Hygienists may be required to place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; and smooth and polish metal restorations.

Hygienists also help patients develop and maintain good oral health through education, such as explaining the relationship between diet and oral health or informing patients how to select toothbrushes and demonstrate how to properly brush and floss teeth.

With instruction and supervision, hygienists may prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret and sometimes work chair side with the dentist during treatment.

TECHNICAL & COMPREHENSION
• Demonstrates application of related theory and principles and is knowledgeable of instrument uses.
• Reliably and accurately completes work, uses appropriate techniques for each patient’s condition (as evaluated by the attending dentist).
• Demonstrates proper sterilization and infection control procedures.
• Set-up trays with appropriate instruments prior to patient arrival.
• Familiar with equipment function and maintenance including changing traps, cold sterilization, washing jackets (uniforms), bio-hazard trash disposal, and cleaning water systems on scheduled days.
• Updates patient charts properly including notes about homecare, behavior, and orthodontics.
• Applies fluoride to teeth.
• Assists with x-ray, sterilization and charting during peak times.
• Maintains orderly patient flow in bay area.
• Follows Asepsis Procedures with respect to barriers, masks, gloves, jackets, protective eyewear, and hazardous waste.
• Displays appropriate patient management skills.

COMMUNICATION:
 Communicates in a courteous and professional manner with patients, parents, staff, vendors, etc., expressing The Salvation Army’s values of compassion and understanding, in all circumstances.
 Establishes rapport with patients and addresses children on their level to alleviate fear, using positive reinforcement, “Tell-Show-Do” or other accepted techniques of patient management.
 Routinely checks with patients for discomfort.
 Provides appropriate homecare instruction.
 Maintains confidentiality of staff and patient information, including patient charts, personal salary, etc.

TEAMWORK & PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Attendance and Initiative:
 Arrives for work as scheduled in time to properly prepare for the day prior to patient arrival.
 Notifies supervisor of absences in advance, at the earliest possible time and in accordance with employee policy manual.
 Assumes workload responsibility for others as needed due to illness, vacation, etc.
 Demonstrates flexibility when scheduling personal/vacation time.
 Completes assigned tasks professionally and thoroughly with minimal supervision.
 Is a reliable team member by demonstrating:
o Personal initiative in the workplace.
o Completing assigned tasks with minimal supervision
o Accepting additional duties willingly
o Demonstrates confidence and competence in decision making.
o Accepts constructive criticism willingly, with a focus on personal growth and development.
o Participates in staff meetings and training by offering helpful, constructive suggestions.
 Supports stock work during non-peak times.
 Helps office staff during “down time.”
 All other duties as assigned.

Professional Relationships
 Relays clear patient information to Doctors and other staff, as appropriate.
 Demonstrates professionalism and respect toward patients, coworkers and Doctors.
 Accepts constructive criticism willingly.
 Expresses concerns and/or problems to attending dentist, office manager or DHQ staff as appropriate.