Dental Hygienist

Full time licensed dental hygienist needed to provide adult and pediatric cleanings and assist dentist during examination and treatment of patients. Cahaba Medical Care expects all of our licensed providers to host learners from time to time, since we are a teaching institution. This is our pipeline for recruiting excellent providers who want to serve the populations we take care of. Every student we accept applies for the chance to be here through a competitive process and is reviewed and assessed for their likelihood of working in an underserved, underresourced area in the future. We want to ensure they fit our mission. We try to give our newer providers time to get settled before adding them to our pool of available preceptors, and we offer best practices for integrating learners into your clinic without compromising efficiency.

Responsibilities:

Patient screenings: Conduct initial screenings during checkups Dental history: Review a patient's dental history before providing treatment Dental cleanings: Perform maintenance cleanings, such as removing plaque and tartar, also known as a "scale and polish" or prophylaxis Uses dental instruments to check and clean gums. Feels lymph nodes to detect swelling or tenderness associated with dental disease. Examines gums for sores or disease using probes and other dental instruments.

Fluoride and sealants:

Apply fluoride or sealants

X-rays:

Take and review x-rays for signs of dental disease Assisting dentists: Help dentists decide on treatments for gum disease or teeth, and assist with minor procedures Administers local anesthetics, as directed. Forms and molds cast impressions

Sterilization:

Sterilize dental equipment Sterilizes instruments and performs other routine infection control and safety tasks

Communication:

Communicate with patients about dental concerns Provides patient with proper instruction for treatment of disease. Teach patients how to care for their teeth, promote good oral health habits, and advise on preventative care

Documentation:

Charts and records conditions of disease for diagnosis and treatment. Joint Commission oversight, prep and point person