Graduating Hygienist

• Role Hygienist
• Contract Type Full Time
• Setting General Dental Practice
• Funding Private
• Employer / Organisation Corporate Dental Organisation

Dental Care Ireland - Galway, Mayo and Sligo we have opportunities for graduating Hygienist's to join us. Due to exciting company growth. Strong patient books, high earning opportunities with flexible day/hours on offer. Established modern practices with state of the art facilities. IDC Registration and indemnity insurance required.

Dental Hygienists are registered Dental Healthcare Professionals (DHPs) who help patients maintain their oral health by preventing and treating gum disease and promoting good oral health behaviour. The Hygienist will work in close partnership with the DCI dental team, take instruction from the dentist and practice manager, and the ability to take ownership and responsibility for clinical policies and procedures in the practice; as set out by Dental Care Ireland and other regulatory bodies, including the Dental Council of Ireland. Treatment can be carried out by a hygienist once the patient has had an annual check-up by a registered dentist.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

·        Confirm medical and dental histories- Maintain documentation and patient chart

·        Record the hard and soft tissue and periodontal status

·        Clean and polish teeth

·        Provide supra and subgingival scaling including comprehensive root surface debridement and apply medicaments when indicated

·        Apply to the teeth and/or gums appropriate prophylactic materials including solutions, gels, and sealants

·        Give advice in relation to oral health, including the planning and implementation of oral health promotion programs, smoking cessation, and diet analysis in relation to the prevention of dental caries and personalised plaque control programs

·        Re-fit crowns with temporary cement and place temporary dressings when crowns or fillings become dislodged in the course of treatment by a dental hygienist

·        Take and process dental radiographs to the prescription of a dentist (having completed a Dental Council approved course in dental radiography)

·        Administer local infiltration and block anaesthesia to patients whom s/he is treating to the prescription of a dentist (having completed a Dental Council approved course in local infiltration and block anaesthesia)

·        Keep your clinical areas and all equipment and instruments clean, tidy, and sterile as appropriate, according to the practice’s health and safety policy, manufacturers’ instructions and the Code of Practice relating to infection control as set out by the Dental Council of Ireland

·        Ensure that adequate stock levels are maintained for the smooth running of your clinic, and inform appointed staff member when stock levels diminish

·        Always maintain patient confidentiality

·        Ensure that any incident relating to patient safety is notified to the Practice Manager and is recorded

·        Working with the practice manager in handling and resolving patient complaints, if they arise in line with company guidelines

When a dental hygienist administers local anaesthesia to a patient the supervising dentist must remain on the premises until the patient has been discharged.

When a dental hygienist is treating a patient under sedation or general anaesthesia the administering practitioner must directly supervise the treatment as they retain clinical responsibility for the patient.

Dental hygienists are trained to recognise dental disease but the responsibility for the diagnosis of disease rests with the dentist.

Dental hygienists do not:

1.     diagnose disease;

2.     restore teeth

3.     carry out pulp treatments;

4.      adjust unrestored surfaces;

5.      extract teeth.

These skills are reserved for dentists. Dental hygienists do not undertake any of the skill areas described in this document as being reserved to dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, orthodontic therapists or dentists.

Qualifications/Experience

Required        

Recognised dental hygienist qualification     

Registration with the Irish Dental Council                 

In-depth knowledge of health and safety regulation in this profession.       

HEP B certification     

Current CPR certification