Dental Hygienist

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This position is located at the AST Little Axe Health Center Dental Department. This department provides general dentistry and oral hygiene care services within the AST Health System. The Dental Hygienist: provides cleaning; scaling and root planning; polishing teeth; instructing patients in good oral hygiene habits and after care for dental treatments rendered; providing other preventative dental care, such as, sealants and fluoride treatments and work chair-side as needed, with the dentist during examinations and treatments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides direct general dental hygienic practices such as: taking x-rays, expose and develop x-ray film, making molds for dental prostheses, make impressions for study casts.

• Take and record medical history and medication lists.

• Clean calcareous deposits, accretions, and stains from teeth and beneath margins of gums, using dental instruments.

• Feel and visually examine gums for sores and signs of disease. Chart conditions of decay and disease for diagnosis and treatment by dentist. Feel lymph nodes under patient’s chin to detect swelling or tenderness that could indicate the presence of oral cancer.

• Apply fluorides and other cavity preventing agents to arrest dental decay.

• Administer local anesthetic agents.

• Provide clinical services and health education to improve and maintain oral health of school children.

• Conduct dental health clinics for community groups to augment services of dentist.

• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an accredited dental hygiene school and be licensed as a dental hygienist by the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry in accordance with the provisions of the State Dental Act of Oklahoma.

• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a Dental Hygienist.

• CPR Certified.

• Radiation Safety Certified.

• Must be able to follow and apply established office policies and procedures.

• Must have strong interpersonal skills. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and written.

• Be capable of working effectively with doctor, staff members, and patients under varying conditions.

• Be capable of meeting the physical and mental demands of the position i.e. extended periods of standing; frequent interruptions; long, irregular hours.

• Be able to deal with the pressures and demands of dealing with ill and injured and their family members.

• Must have computer skills; be proficient with Microsoft office software.

• Must be able to pass a background check and submit to a drug screen.