Part-Time - Dental Hygienist

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Licensed by the Michigan Board of Dentistry to practice dental hygiene in the State of Michigan.
• Possess a valid United States motor vehicle operator’s or chauffeur’s license.

ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous full-time paid experience as a Dental Hygienist in a public health agency.
• Reasonable knowledge of and skill in applying the principles, practices, and techniques of dental hygiene in a public health clinic.
• Reasonable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and non-professional Health Division personnel, representatives of other agencies, and the general public.
• Reasonable ability to maintain records of dental and oral hygiene services to individual patients.
• Reasonable ability to communicate effectively the educational aspects of oral hygiene to interested groups and individuals.
• Reasonable ability to exercise mature judgment and initiative in analyzing problems and recommending solutions.
• Familiar with current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and Internet software.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must maintain license to practice dental hygiene in the State of Michigan.
• Must maintain a valid United States driver’s or chauffeur’s license.
• Must submit to immunizations as requested by the Department of Health & Human Services and periodic tuberculin skin tests or chest X-rays at County expense.

If assignment is for Children’s Village, before beginning employment, candidates will be required to provide Children’s Village with documentation from the Michigan Department of Human Services that they have not been named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect.

In addition, applicants being considered for hire will be asked to sign a form authorizing Children’s Village to request and receive a criminal history check in accordance with the privacy act of 1974. Applicants for positions working with/at Children’s Village will not be considered if they have been convicted of either of the following:

• Child Abuse or Neglect
• A felony involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of hire.

If assignment is for kindergarten oral health assessment, before beginning employment, the following is required:

• Documentation from MDHHS that the candidate is not named in a central registry case as a perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect.  Clearances are updated prior to each new school year.
• Documentation from the Michigan Department of State Police ICHAT that the candidate has not been convicted of child abuse and neglect, or a felony involving harm or threated harm.  Clearances are updated prior to each new school year.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Removes accretions, calculus deposits and stains from the surface of teeth using appropriate dental equipment or manual method to combat oral disease and maintain optimum oral health.
• Applies topical fluoride to teeth following established methods to aid in reducing tooth decay.
• Takes digital radiographs of patient’s mouths and notes suspicious areas of possible oral disease for the attention of the Dentist.
• Demonstrates the correct techniques involved in good oral health care and provides information and oral health care supplies to patients to ensure proper oral health maintenance.
• Performs preliminary examinations that involves charting visual/clinical findings, classifying occlusion, and cancer screening for use in medical records and in setting guidelines for oral health care plans.
• Examines the soft tissue in and around the oral cavity for abnormalities and charts the condition of the tissue supporting the gums and bones.
• Records and charts a patient’s oral health condition and procedures used in each examination in order to maintain medical records on each patient.
• Scrubs all instruments and equipment used in treatment with a disinfectant solution, ultrasonic cleaner and places them in an autoclave for sterilizing.
• Maintains an inventory of dental supplies and requests supplies, when needed.
• Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists the Dentist during oral screenings, examinations, and restorative treatments. This entails setting up instruments for the procedure, rinsing & suctioning, cleaning the instruments and operatory after treatment.
• Establishes patient schedule for hygiene and dentist appointments and disseminating to appropriate staff in Children’s Village.
• Assist in the Dental Program office such as answering the phone, mailing applications, and taking referrals.
• As needed, acts as a Subject Matter Expert for other units for guidance on patients’ oral health, educational materials creation, and accuracy, and/or collaboration regarding legislative issues that are happening at the State or Federal level.

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and move screening supplies with or without assistance.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Some assignments may include travel to other locations to assist and educate those in the community about Public Health initiatives involving Oral Health (doctor’s offices, schools, community meetings, conferences, etc.).

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The primary purpose of this job description is to set a fair and equitable salary range for this job classification.  Generally, only those key duties necessary for proper job evaluation and/or labor market analysis have been included.  Other duties and responsibilities will be assigned by the supervisor.