Description:

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

To promote and maintain the oral health of patients by delivering skilled preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene care, conducting thorough assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and providing education that empowers patients to sustain long-term oral wellbeing.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Deliver direct patient care to patients as assigned, using established dental hygienist procedures.
Perform patient triage and initiate patient care as appropriate for walk-in patients once a dentist conducts an initial comprehensive oral exam.
Develop and implement individualized dental care plans for patients according to periodontal diagnosis from dentist.
Assess the nature, extent, and pathology of dental and periodontal conditions by reviewing medical records and applying established protocols to formulate effective, individualized treatment plans.
Use patient screening procedures to include medical history review, dental charting and periodontal charting.
Take patient vital signs as required.
Document dental history or chief complaint of patient.
Record and report pertinent observations and patient reactions to dental staff, as appropriate.
Perform routine treatment procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, x-rays, application of sealants and fluorides, and related procedures.
Assist with or institute emergency measures for sudden adverse developments during treatment of patients.
Communicate technical information to non-technical personnel.
Set up and prepare dental equipment and instrumentation in accordance with established regulations and guidelines.
Assist in preparation of patient care areas and in the patient admission, transfer, and discharge process, as required.
Prepare reports and assist as required with patient reception, telephone calls, routine triage and other office duties.
Perform patient education, discharge planning and patient/family teaching under the supervision of a qualified dentist.
Enter treatment plan data accurately and promptly to support timely patient consultations and scheduling.
Communicate all concerns to the dentist.
Assist with agency fundraising activities as requested, including promoting events, selling tickets, soliciting donations, and other tasks to support events.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Comprehensive knowledge of dental hygiene theory and practice, including periodontal assessment, prophylaxis, radiography, sealant and fluoride application, and patient education techniques.
Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations governing the provision of dental outpatient services.
Knowledge of dental surgery and associated procedures.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to build effective rapport with patients, staff, and community members from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to orally communicate effectively with others, with or without the use of an interpreter.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing using the English language, with or without the use of auxiliary aids or services.
Ability to respect the culture, values, and opinions of others.
Ability to review, understand, and apply concepts presented in training programs, conferences, and/or professional literature.
Ability to adapt to evolving policies and processes in support of continuous service improvement.
Clear understanding that FoundCare provides information on educating individuals on safer sex practices, which would include but not be limited to, exposure to explicit language, explicit printed material, and descriptions of explicit sexual activities as part of the agency’s mission in the prevention and transmission of HIV disease.
Ability to maintain client and family confidentiality.
Proficiency in dental practice management software and EHR documentation systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to endure short, intermittent, and/or long periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
Full range of body motion: Position requires reaching, bending, stooping, and handling objects with hands and/or fingers, talking and/or hearing, and seeing.
Ability to lift & carry objects weighing up to 25lbs.
Exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and communicable diseases.
Ability to utilize standard precautions to prevent transmission of diseases acquired by contact with blood, bodily fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes.
Operate dental hygiene instruments, radiography equipment, and standard clinical and office technology in the course of daily duties.
Ability to travel to other FoundCare locations and perform job duties.
Ability to travel to other locations to attend meetings, workshops, and seminars, plus travel to other FoundCare departments and FoundCare conference rooms.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Licensure: Active dental hygiene license in the state of Florida, current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and a valid Florida local anesthesia certificate required.
Education: Associate degree from an accredited dental hygiene program required. A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of clinical experience as a dental hygienist.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

FoundCare, Inc.

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Dental Hygienist (Part-Time)