Dental Hygienist

Hennepin Healthcare is an integrated system of care that includes HCMC, a nationally recognized Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and acute care hospital, as well as a clinic system with primary care clinics located in Minneapolis and across Hennepin County. The comprehensive healthcare system includes a 473-bed academic medical center, a large outpatient Clinic & Specialty Center, and a network of clinics in the North Loop, Whittier, and East Lake Street neighborhoods of Minneapolis, and in the suburban communities of Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, Richfield, and St. Anthony Village. Hennepin Healthcare has a large psychiatric program, home care, and operates a research institute, philanthropic foundation, and Hennepin EMS. The system is operated by Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., a subsidiary corporation of Hennepin County.

Equal Employment Opportunities: We believe equity is essential for optimal health outcomes and are committed to achieve optimal health for all by actively eliminating barriers due to racism, poverty, gender identity, and other determinants of health. We are committed to equitable care and working in an environment that celebrates, promotes, and protects diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are committed to bringing in individuals with new cultural perspectives to assist in creating a more equitable healthcare organization.

JOB DETAILS

Department: Dental Clinic
FTE: 0.6 (48 hours per pay period)
Workdays: Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Shift(s): Days
Shift Length: 8 hours

Sign-On Bonus: $5,000*
*Sign on bonus is available for eligible external candidates (current employees, contract/temporary workers, and former employees returning to HHS within one year are ineligible).

Purpose of this position: Under general supervision, performs work of moderate difficulty in performing clinical hygiene procedures.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs complete prophylaxis including scaling, root planning, soft tissue curettage and polishing of fillings. Perform mechanical polishing to clinical crowns not including instrumentation. Removal of calculus by instrumentation must be done by the dentist or dental hygienist before mechanical polishing
• Performs preliminary charting of the oral cavity and surrounding structures to include case histories, perform initial and periodic examinations and assessments to determine periodontal status, and formulate a dental hygiene treatment plan in coordination with the dentist's treatment plan
• Performs procedures such as dietary and salivary analysis and prepares smears
• May remove and change periodontal packs
• Advises patient on proper diet and dentalcare
• Charts patient treatments
• Counsels patient and family on dental care and treatments
• Instructs patient in oral hygiene techniques
• Prepares, cleans, and maintains instruments and equipment
• Takes and develops x-rays; performs fluoride applications
• Maintains supplies
• Prepares and maintains records
• Make referrals to dentists, physicians, and other practitioners in consultation with a dentist
• Replacement, cementation, and adjustment of intact temporary restorations extraorally and intraorally
• Re-cement intact temporary restorations and place temporary fillings (not including temporization of inlays, onlays, crowns and bridges) to provide palliative treatment
• Remove excess cement from inlays, crowns, bridges and orthodontic appliances with hand instrumentation only
• Apply topical medications such as, but not limited to, topical fluoride, bleaching agents, and cavity varnishes in appropriate dosages or quantities as prescribed by a dentist
• Take impressions for casts and appropriate bite registration
• Remove sutures
• Facilitate scheduling patients for operating room procedures as needed
• Arrange insurance and payment options for patients and refer patients to the proper social service avenue
• Assess and monitor patient's blood pressure and use a glucometer to test glucose levels
• Triage phone encounters for patient care
• Administer and monitor nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia
• Administer local anesthesia
• Perform oral screening/assessment and preventative services at off-site locations as directed. Etch appropriate enamel surfaces, application and adjustment of pit and fissure sealants
• Restorative Expanded Functions. Restorative procedures limited to: placing, contouring, and adjusting amalgam restorations, glass ionomers, and supragingival composite restorations (class I & V) and adapting and cementing stainless steel crowns
• Other duties as assigned, but only when trained to do so

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from a school for dental hygienists approved by Council on Dental Education of the American Dental Association

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have collaborative Management Agreement in place
• Prior experience working in a community clinic

Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities:

• Dental Hygienist must have completed a course on nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia
• Dental Hygienist must have completed course on sealant placement
• Dental Hygienist must have completed a course on administration of local anesthesia

License/Certifications:

• Possession of a valid license as a dental hygienist issued by the State of Minnesota
• Basic Life Support

You've made the right choice in considering Hennepin Healthcare for your employment. We offer a wealth of opportunities for individuals who want to make an impact in our patients' lives. We are dedicated to providing Equal Employment Opportunities to both current and prospective employees. We are driven to connect talented individuals with life-changing career opportunities, enabling you to provide exceptional care without exception. Thank you for considering Hennepin Healthcare as a future employer.

Please Note: Offers of employment from Hennepin Healthcare are conditional and contingent upon successful clearance of all background checks and pre-employment requirements.

• We offer a competitive pay rate based on your skills, licensure/certifications, education, experience related to this position, and internal equity.
• We provide an extensive benefits program that includes Medical; Dental; Vision; Life, Short and Long-term Term Disability Insurance; Retirement Funds; Paid Time Off; and Tuition reimbursement.
• For a complete list of our benefits, please visit our career site on why you should work for us.