Dental Hygienist

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Position Summary: The position is responsible for planning and carrying out dental hygiene treatment and oral health education to whatever depth is considered necessary for patients.

Scope of Work: This position is located at the Dental Facility, Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital, in Sells, Arizona. The purpose of this position is to perform advanced prophylactic and preventive dental procedures in the treatment of patients with related medical and dental problems. In addition, the Chief of the Dental Services establishes the dental program's objectives and philosophy and provides general supervision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

• Completes a preliminary dental examination on new dental patients.
• Refers abnormalities, such as cavities, traumatic occlusion, and suspicious lesions, to the dentist.
• Prepares dental hygiene treatment plans for patients, including assessing the problem, type of organ hygiene care required, and the sequence of appointments needed to complete treatment.
• Performs complete oral prophylaxis on ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.
• Performs subgingival scaling, root planning, and curettage under local anesthesia.
• Polishes the teeth and applies fluoride for hypersensitivity, and carries prevention.
• Provides bedside prophylactic treatment using specialized procedures for comatose patients, neurosurgical patients, and other types of non-ambulatory patients.
• In post-operative care of oral surgery and periodontal surgery patients, performs suture removal, changes dressing, applies topical anesthetics, and provides home care instructions.
• Assists the dentist by making repairs and adjustments to the teeth by smoothing rough edges or restorations, removing overhanging margins of fillings, reducing sharp edges of fractured teeth, etc.
• Instructs patients at chairside in oral hygiene, brushing and flossing techniques, and periodontal aids.
• Regularly instructs nurses, health educators, social workers, nursing assistants, community health representatives, and other medical staff to apply proper oral hygiene techniques to young patients, bedridden, disabled, and chronically ill patients.
• Exposes, develops, and processes radiographs on patients, including bitewing, periapical and panoramic x-rays.
• Maintains a record of patient's treatment and records oral conditions of the teeth and surrounding tissues, progress, and therapy notes.
• Contributes to a team effort.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs,and
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws, regulations,and
• Knowledge of the instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgical, endodontic, and periodontal treatment provided in a general dentist.
• Knowledge of dental anatomy and bony structures of the head and neck to take diagnostic radiographs.
• Knowledge of oral pathology and periodontology to recognize a variety of abnormal hard and soft tissue conditions.
• Knowledge of medical diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease; as they relate to the care and treatment of the teeth to perform bedside prophylaxis.
• Knowledge and ability to recognize common dental disorders and conditions such as inflamed tissue and tooth decay and perform intra-oral procedures to treat these conditions.
• Knowledge and skill in efficient clinic scheduling, typing, supply ordering, and data gathering.
• Knowledge of the use, care and storage of dental equipment, materials and instruments.
• Knowledge of sterilization techniques.
• Knowledge of procedures used in a dental clinic for receiving, routing, scheduling