Registered Dental Hygienist - Berks Community Health Center - Reading, PA

Permanent Dental Hygienist Job

Reading, PA

Job Description

Position Summary
The Registered Dental Hygienist provides clinical dental services and preventive dental care, such as evaluations, patient history and dental hygiene cleanings, in a community health center setting, with the proper authorization, assignment or examination by a dentist. The position requires someone who has comprehensive knowledge of primary dental care in an outpatient setting, knowledge of the principles and practices of modern dentistry as related to public health organizations and community health programs and current social and economic problems pertaining to public health and their impact on primary health care. The Registered Dental Hygienist also participates actively in BCHC’s mission to provide exceptional patient-centered primary and preventive healthcare for all residents of Berks County, regardless of economic status.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluates each patient’s overall oral health, examining oral cavity for signs of periodontal disease, oral lesions, or possible cancers.
Assesses dental condition and needs of patient using approved patient screening procedures, including medical history review, dental charting, and periodontal charting.
Performs dental hygiene and procedures within the permitted scope of practice. Procedures may include: prophylaxis, periodontal scaling, root planning, debridement, sealant material, or both; performing coronal polishing; taking impressions of teeth for study models, diagnostic casts or athletic appliances.
Exposes and mounts digital radiographs.
Applies fluoride treatments and varnish.
Applies protective sealants.
Administers local anesthesia.
Documents dental care services by charting in patient electronic records.
Refers patients to dentist annually.
Educates patients in oral hygiene including proper tooth brushing, flossing, nutrition, and need for professional care.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of established oral hygiene concepts and periodontal therapies, dental procedures, clinic infection control procedures, cleaning and sterilization of instruments, tray set up, and dental materials.
Demonstrates commitment to the mission of the organization in promoting dental health.
Interacts positively with a diverse and occasionally demanding patient population.
Provides service in a manner that is appropriate for the patient’s age; demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to meet the patient’s physical, psychosocial, educational, and safety needs.
Fosters teamwork within and between individuals and teams at BCHC by promoting open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care.
Functions competently within own scope of practice as a member of the health care team.
Values the perspectives and expertise of all health team members.
Respects the unique attributes that members bring to a team, including variations in professional orientations and accountabilities.
Assumes role of team member or leader based on the situation.
Initiate requests for help when appropriate to situation.
Openly offers assistance to others when appropriate to situation regardless of whether assistance was specifically requested.
Clarifies roles and accountabilities under conditions of potential overlap in team member functioning.
Communicates effectively and efficiently with team members, adapting own style of communicating to needs of the team and situation.
Demonstrates commitment to team goals rather than individual priorities.
Solicits input from other team members to improve individual, as well as team, performance.
Initiates actions to resolve conflict.
Develops, fosters and supports communication practices that minimize risks; associated with handoffs among team members and across transitions in care.
Participates in designing systems that support effective teamwork.
Adheres to performance and behavioral expectations of healthcare professional in support of the mission and values of BCHC and its continued growth and success.
Attends All Staff and Departmental staff meetings.
Serves on BCHC’s internal committees as assigned.
Maintains effective, positive and collaborative relationships within and among the Center’s staff, as well as with patients and families, and outside health-care resources.
Ensures all actions, job performance, personal conduct and communications represent the organization in a highly professional manner at all times.
Ensures and upholds the confidentiality and privacy requirements of all patient records, and manages all daily tasks and activities consistent with HIPAA, state and federal laws and regulations, as well as within BCHC’s policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and security.
Upholds and ensures compliance with and attention to all BCHC policies and procedures.
Works to further the mission of BCHC and uphold organizational values.
Completes activities that help to maintain a clean, organized and safe work environment that facilitates ease of patient and team member flow and increase patient and team satisfaction
Education and Position Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Current Registered Dental Hygienist with PA state licensure. Either holds or is eligible for Public Health Dental Practitioner permit.
Local Anesthesia Permit.
Current CPR (BLS) certification.
PREFERRED SKILLS
Public Health Dental Hygiene Practitioner Permit strongly preferred.
Experience with Electronic Medical Record (Centricity) a plus.
Two years of experience preferred.

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Ability to Relocate:

Reading, PA 19604: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

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