Job Information
Peoples Health Centers Family of Companies Dental Hygienist in St. Louis, Missouri
• Dental Hygienist Job Purpose: Promotes dental health by completing dental prophylaxis; providing oral cancer screening and radiographic studies; charting conditions of decay and disease; performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act. Dental Hygienist Job Duties: • Prepares treatment room for patient by adhering to prescribed procedures and protocols. • Prepares patient for dental hygiene treatment by welcoming, soothing, seating, and draping patient. • Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests. • Actively engage in re-credentialing process and utilize feedback provided by Dental Director in practice area. • Maintains instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening, sterilizing, and selecting instruments. • Selects materials and equipment for dental hygiene visit by evaluating patient's oral health. • Completes dental prophylaxis by cleaning deposits and stains from teeth and from beneath gum margins. • Detects disease by completing oral cancer screening; feeling and visually examining gums; using probes to locate periodontal disease and to assess levels of recession; exposing and developing radiographic studies. • Arrests dental decay by applying fluorides and other cavity- preventing agents. • Maintains patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations; cleaning and polishing removable appliances; placing, carving, and finishing amalgam restorations; removing cement from crowns and bridges. • Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining cpr certification, emergency drugs and oxygen supply, and directory of emergency numbers. • Educates patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions and postoperative instructions; providing reminders of time of next dental hygiene visit. • Documents dental hygiene services by recording vital signs and medical and dental histories; charting in patient records. • Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential. • Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations. • Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols Skills/Qualifications: Use of Dental Technology, Dental Health Maintenance, Infection Control, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Bedside Manner, Creating a Safe, Effective Environment, Listening, Teamwork, Administering Medication, Thoroughness, Self-Development