Dental Hygienist – La Familia Medical Center – Santa Fe, NM

3 full-time (benefit eligible) 40hrs/week

Under the direction of the Dental Director, the Dental Hygienist provides preventive dental services and oral health education to patients and gathers patient data for use by the dentist in diagnosis and treatment planning. The position promotes dental health by completing dental prophylaxis, provides oral cancer screening, conducts radiographic studies; charts restorations, conducts periodontal packet measurements; and performs procedures in compliance with the Dental Practice Act, gathering and updating patient information.

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Receives patients and prepares them for dental procedures, both physically and emotionally; interviews and conducts preliminary assessment and triage of patients to determine reasons for visit, obtains dental health history and checks appropriate vitals, records data on patient’s chart;
• Reviews and evaluates patient medical/dental questionnaire for drug and/or procedure contra-indicators;
• Exposes, processes, and mounts x-rays both digitally and manually, evaluates radiographs for review by dental providers;
• Provides clinical dental hygiene treatment to include scaling, root planning, polish, fluoride, periodontal charting;
• Records and maintains patient files including treatment, current and updated medical refills, laboratory reports/results, dental visits, and other patient date/information required by LFMC providers or protocols;
• Scrubs instruments and prepares them for autoclaving; sanitizes and disinfects operatory, sharpens instruments, restocks with necessary materials, instruments, and supplies;
• Writes prescriptions for endorsement by the dentist and calls them into pharmacy;
• Triages emergency patients for the dentist;
• Maintains appropriate levels of office, dental supplies and other materials through timely and accurate inventory and requisition procedures; re-stocks and orders supplies in each exam room and treatment rooms;
• Provides oral hygiene instruction and education to patients; including making available and distributing LFMC patient information and literature related to dental health promotion/disease prevention for all patient age categories;
• Assists with patient case management tasks and patient discharge plan to include patient referrals, prescription refills, and schedules specialty appointments; submits paperwork to the Patient Services Representative or other appropriate staff person.
• Conducts him or herself with integrity and professionalism consistent with Workplace Laws, and LFMC policy. Coordinates with other departments, works effectively with peers, and contributes to organization objectives.
• Maintains a safe, secure, and legal work environment.
• Abides by policies and procedure, and, laws and regulations.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by participating and completing LFMC training and external educational opportunities. Stays informed of policy, compliance and legal expectations affecting department.

I. Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited dental hygiene program and NM State license to practice is required. Six months to one year post-dental hygiene school experience is preferred; or any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education approved by Human Resources.
• New Mexico certification as a Dental Hygienist required.
• CPR certification required.
• Working knowledge of the theory of oral pathology to include prevention and control of cavities and periodontal disease through plaque control and gingival massage as weel as the rodl of diet in the control of oral disease;
• Including, but not limited to: basic Annual Safety, Bloodborne Pathogen, Infectious Control, HIPAA Training.
• This position requires a basic knowledge of clinical procedures in order to prepare patients for their examination.
• Ability to use a multi-line telephone, a computer, to multiple tasks within established deadlines, to work under the direction of a provider and follow instructions for work completion, and to take the initiative to resolve patient concerns and problems.
• Ability to read and interpret medical documents and records, write at a moderate level of competence, communicate effectively.
• Preferred fluent in both English and Spanish.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package