Job Summary

Performs preventive and therapeutic direct patient care. Meets the qualifications and holds appropriate licensure to provide care for patients of all ages.

Job Duties

• Performs external and internal oral evaluations and records comprehensive periodontal and restorative dental charting.
• Performs prophylactic treatment and provides services that may involve placement of sub-gingival agents, periodontal probing, scaling (manually or mechanically to remove subgingival and supragingival plaque, calculus or stains), root planning, and full mouth debridement.
• May administer pain control agents such as topical anesthetic, Oraquix and and or local anesthesia (in accordance with 5, relating to local anesthesia permit).
• Applies caries preventative agents including topical fluoride trays and varnish, dental sealants, desensitizing agents to root surfaces, and places temporary restorations when necessary.
• Exposes and processes dental radiographs.
• Provides patient education and home care protocols by discussing and demonstrating homecare techniques and products for patient use as part of an individualized self-care program.
• May include the importance of good nutrition and tobacco cessation in maintaining optimal oral health.
• Completes new medical questionnaire annually.
• Updates and reviews medical health history and completes all electronic medical record screenings at every dental visit.
• Cleans and sterilizes instruments and disinfects dental equipment and operatory.
• Maintains responsibility for general operatory and clinic maintenance, as well as monitors expiration dates on supplies.
• Maintains current professional license and technical skills with continuing education and mandatory in-house training programs and performance improvement activities as applicable.
• Attends and participates in appropriate monthly meetings.
• When time permits, monitors their own schedules and communicates with scheduling pod to ensure cancellations and open slots are filled.
• Assists in other areas as appropriate and as time permits.
• Reply to patient questions and concerns.

Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.

Position Details

Education

Associate's Degree-Dental Hygiene (Required)

Certification(s) and License(s)

Basic Life Support Certification - Default Issuing Body; Licensed Dental Hygienist - PA State Board of Dentistry

About Geisinger

Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes ten hospital campuses, a 550,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. With nearly 24,000 employees and more than 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Our Vision & Values

Everything we do is about making better health easier for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities.

KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves.

EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence.

LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow.

INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.

SAFETY: We provide a safe environment for our patients and members and the Geisinger family.

Our Benefits

We offer healthcare benefits for full time and part time positions from day one, including vision, dental and prescription coverage.