Description

Location: Tacoma Practice
Position Type: Full Time (flexible - open to 30-40 hours per week)
Schedule: 4 10-hour Shifts or 3 10-Hour Shifts
Expected Hiring Range: $59.00 - $69.00 per Hour

Position Summary
The Dental Hygienist works in collaboration with a dental team to provide dental care and education to patients. The Dental Hygienist will utilize interpersonal skills to motivate and partner with patients in maintaining oral health wellness and prevent oral disease. All duties and functions will be performed within the parameters of their state’s Dental Practice Act, the Willamette Dental mission, evidence based treatment philosophy and core values. WD hygienists are encouraged to pursue education and gain the ultimate levels of licensure and certification allowed by each state’s Dental Practice Act. Fully credentialed hygienists present the greatest opportunity to provide exceptional care and help define the future dental mid-level provider.

Essential Position Functions

• Apply the dental hygiene process of care (Assessment, Dental Hygiene Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation) as a framework for care delivery.
• Gather accurate patient data for systemic and oral comprehensive assessment; perform at least,
  but not limited to:
  • Review of medical, dental and social history
  • Take and/or update blood pressure
  • Perform extra-oral and intra-oral exams
  • Chart and record dental and periodontal findings
  • Conduct risk assessment through patient interviewing
• Expose and evaluate diagnostic radiographs that are appropriate within treatment guidelines and ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) guidelines
• Document assessments findings in Electronic Dental Records (EDR) system.
• Document assessment findings and communicate these findings with the doctor of record to establish a dental hygiene treatment plan.
• Communicate and reinforce the treatment plan to the patient; discuss additional costs associated with treatment and obtain patient consent.
• Render appropriate dental hygiene care as dictated by the treatment plan and ethics of the profession; perform at least, but not limited to:
  • Explanation of Procedure, Alternatives, Risks and answer patient questions (PARQ)
  • Prophy
  • Scaling and polishing
  • Scaling and root planning
  • Oral health education and prognosis
  • Nutritional counseling and prognosis
  • Smoking cessation and prognosis
  • Local anesthesia or N2O when necessary
  • Preventative and therapeutic fluoride, sealants and restorations as needed according to individual state scope of practice.
• Engage and educate the patient as a partner in care; recommend self-care based upon individual patient risks, conditions and capabilities.
• Continuously evaluate and counsel patient concerning oral health status and recommend
  modifications of the dental hygiene treatment plan to the doctor of record and the patient.
• Recommend patient products according to individual patient needs, risks and symptoms.
• Perform infection control procedures including disinfection and sterilization as appropriate; utilize appropriate barrier techniques.
• Communicate effectively with dental teams and patients as an educator and advocate.
• Adhere to infection control policy and guidelines; utilize PPE and engineering controls appropriately.
• Assist coworkers, maintain operatory and sharpen instruments.
• Strict adherence to Willamette Dental’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) policy. This includes, but is not limited to the use of N95 respirators and other
• PPE as required by regulatory bodies and company policy.
• Flexibility to travel to other WD locations within a reasonable range as described in our Travel Policy as needed based on business need.
• Reliable and predictable attendance is essential. Willamette Dental cannot efficiently provide services to our members and patients without our employees being at work at their scheduled work time.

Requirements

Education and Experience

Requires graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Licenses, Certifications and Registrations

• Current BLS certification required.
• Current dental hygiene license in good standing
• Local anesthesia endorsement; required.
• N2O permit; required and kept current.