Dental Hygienist

Job Description

Job Description

Registered Dental Hygienist

Neighborhood Health Services Corporation (NHSC), a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), is a provider of ambulatory primary health care services within the medically under-served and uninsured populations in the greater Union County, New Jersey community. We are looking for a full time Registered Dental Hygienist to be an integral part of the dental staff, dividing time between our facility in Plainfield, New Jersey, and Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Essential Functions and Principal Accountabilities

• Assist in the management of patients’ oral health.
• Obtain baseline oral hygiene assessment date based upon accepted principles of oral hygiene and periodontal care.
• Record patient-hygienist transactions in patient’s dental record as they occur so that the record accurately and completely reflects the nature of the contact, the condition of the patient, and the care or treatment provided.
• Provide oral health education and appropriate individual counseling for dental patients.
• Provide clinical oral hygiene services including dental prophylaxis, scaling, sealant application and fluoride application consistent with accepted professional practices and standards and in compliance with applicable state law and the Health Center’s clinical protocols.
• Integrate appropriate patient dental hygiene care with other health care professionals involved in the patient’s health care management.
• Organize and perform preventive oral health presentations at on-site and off-site locaitons.
• Assist in providing technical assistance and health education in the community as requested.
• Participate in the Dental department’s PI program.
• Perform independent procedures as delegated and directed by a dentist in accordance with state regulations and law as well as Dental department protocol and directive.
• Assist in the maintenance of compliance with policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
• Receive and place telephone calls regarding clinic business, patient care and professional matters.
• Assist with various clinical and administrative functions.
• Insure the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental department procedures, Health Center policy and state and federal regulations.
• Comply with the Health Center’s Exposure Control Plan.
• Travel to meet operational needs when necessary.
• As directed by a supervisor, perform other related and necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives.
• Responsible for personal compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and organizational rules, regulations and protocols governing the practice of dental hygiene and provision of dental hygiene services as well as those relating to personnel issues, workplace safety, public health and confidentiality.
• Position Qualifications
• Education and Training
• Graduation from an accredited school of dental hygiene.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with fellow healthcare providers.
• Ability to be clinically fluent in Spanish preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain appropriate clinical privileges.
• FTCA coverage or private professional malpractice insurance obtainable.

Licenses, Certificates, Registration

Unrestricted license to practice Oral Hygiene in the State of New Jersey.

Current CPR (BLS) certification.

Skills and Abilities

Requires comprehensive knowledge of oral hygiene care in outpatient settings. Knowledge of the principles and practices of modern oral hygiene and periodontal patient care is essential.  The Registered Dental Hygienist must be cognizant of the public Health, social, and economic factors which impact the overall health, and more specifically, the oral health of patients. The Dental Hygienist must be able to creatively work with other health care professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal program effectiveness and patient benefit.  The ability to creatively solve problems through individual and / or programmatic action is an important of this position.

Typical Physical Demands

Prolonged sitting or standing may be required. Those physical movements and the degree of mobility, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination normally associated with the practice of modern oral hygiene will be performed on a repetitive basis. The ability to distinguish letters and symbols, as well as the ability to utilize telephone, computer terminals and copiers are required.  Work under stressful conditions and / or irregular hours may be required.  Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medical preparations, radiation and other conditions common to a clinical environment may be routinely encountered.

OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Classification : Category 1

Additional Responsibilities

The Registered Dental Hygienist may be required to perform other duties as assigned or when necessary.  If such work becomes a permanent and regular part of the job a new job description will be prepared.  In compliance with EEOC 29 CFR part 1630, if the essential functions of this position cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner by the employee, further accommodation shall be made, if this does not constitute undue hardship upon the organization.

This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. The Registered Dental Hygienist will follow any other instructions and perform any related duties as required by NHSC.  As with all Neighborhood Health Service Corporation positions, the continuation of the position is subject to the availability of sufficient funding resource.  In addition, all NHSC employees are employees of the organization and as such may be required to work at any and all work sites of the organization.

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