Health Services Dental Hygenist - 07272023-48182

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, LOCAL HEALTH DIVISION, KNOX COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Licensed and registered by the State of Tennessee as a Dental Hygienist.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Licensed and registered by the State of Tennessee as a Dental Hygienist.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Summary

Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for dental hygiene work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: An employee in this class coordinates dental health education programs and instructs in proper oral hygiene care. An incumbent in this class is responsible for chairside duties in a public health facility or a public health setting.

Responsibilities

Performing General Physical Activities:

• Performs physical activities that require considerable use of our arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Packing, loading, transporting and setting up portable dental equipment and supplies for each preventive program.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Maintains records on site to ensure compliance with standards.
• Complies with State, Tennessee Department of Health and Federal guidelines to ensure compliance with standards.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

• Cleans and sterilizes instruments.
• Maintains equipment and supplies.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

• Administers fluoride supplement programs in regions of the state with non-fluoridated drinking water systems.
• Conducts and implements preventive dental program in designated target populations.
• Administers preventive dental hygiene programs by performing dental screenings, surveys, education, referrals and follow-up.
• Instructs patients in oral hygiene techniques.
• Provides clinical dental hygiene services.

Documenting/Recording Information:

• Inputs preventive dental program data into designated software programs.
• Charts restorations, missing teeth, dental cavities and tissue abnormalities.
• Keeps records and makes reports.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials:

• Reports dental equipment malfunctions to supervisor.
• Maintains dental equipment in good working order.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

• Handles negotiations to resolve problems or issues.
• Resolves problems according to agency policies and procedures.

Getting Information:

• Collects information from central office administration staff, regional administrative staff, schools, and community outreach partners to coordinate and provide preventive dental services.
• Collects information from patient records to determine specific treatment needs.
• Collects, evaluates, and distributes materials from periodicals, pamphlets, films, and other sources on dental health education.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Develops and maintains rapport with communities, schools, and agencies.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

• Monitors and controls resources to ensure no interruption in service delivery.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

• Conducts workshops for teachers, nurses, and dental hygienists in the care and treatment of oral hygiene.
• Communicates with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Develops educational materials for presentation to internal partners.

Handling and Moving Objects:

• Arranges and prepares the site for set-up of portable dental equipment.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

• Provides information to supervisors and co-workers by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicates project status or other relevant information.
• Communicates with supervisors and co-workers using multiple mediums to effectively relay work related information.
• Encourages and builds mutual respect and cooperation among team members.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Functional/Technical
• Integrity and Trust
• Approachability
• Compassion
• Ethics and Values
• Time Management
• Managing Diversity
• Organizing
• Planning
• Problem Solving

Knowledge:

• Clerical
• Public Safety and Security
• Psychology
• Law and Government
• Education and Training
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Mechanical
• Customer and Personal Service
• Computers and Electronics
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Communications and Media
• Mathematics

Skills:

• Mathematics
• Writing
• Systems Analysis
• Operations Monitoring
• Time Management
• Reading Comprehension
• Persuasion
• Complex Problem Solving
• Active Listening
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Equipment Selection
• Negotiation
• Operation and Control
• Quality Control Analysis
• Troubleshooting
• Equipment Maintenance
• Systems Evaluation
• Speaking
• Social Perceptiveness
• Management of Material Resources
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Coordination
• Instructing
• Active Learning
• Service Orientation

Abilities:

• Written Comprehension
• Reaction Time
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Speech Clarity
• Trunk Strength
• Stamina
• Control Precision
• Auditory Attention
• Spatial Orientation
• Number Facility
• Peripheral Vision
• Response Orientation
• Inductive Reasoning
• Static Strength
• Time Sharing
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Oral Comprehension
• Wrist-Finger Speed
• Rate Control
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Near Vision
• Depth Perception
• Glare Sensitivity
• Gross Body Coordination
• Selective Attention
• Speech Recognition
• Dynamic Strength
• Dynamic Flexibility
• Speed of Limb Movement
• Problem Sensitivity
• Oral Expression
• Manual Dexterity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Multi-limb Coordination
• Sound Localization
• Finger Dexterity
• Extent Flexibility
• Written Expression

Tools & Equipment

• Calculator
• Infection Control Equipment As Required
• Personal Computer
• Dental Scalers Or Accessories
• Printer
• Teeth Cleaning Devices Or Accessories
• Scanner
• Dental Probes
• Copy Machine
• Curing Lights
• Fax Machine
• Dental X Ray Units
• Telephone

Other Dental Equipment And Devices As Required

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.
• A valid driver's license

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.