Dental Therapist

Location: Split between Lents and Stark 2 Practices (Southeast Portland) 

Position Type: Full Time Regular

Schedule: 4 10-hour shifts

Expected Hiring Range: $55.15 – $63.15/hour

Position Summary

The Dental Therapist works in collaboration with a dental team to provide dental care and education to patients. The Dental Therapist will utilize interpersonal skills to motivate and partner with patients in maintaining oral health wellness and prevent oral disease. All duties and functions will be performed within the parameters of their state’s Dental Practice Act, the Willamette Dental Group mission, evidence based treatment philosophy and core values. WDG hygienists are encouraged to pursue education and

gain the ultimate levels of licensure and certification allowed by each state’s Dental Practice Act. Fully credentialed hygienists present the greatest opportunity to provide exceptional care and help define the future dental mid-level provider.

Essential Position Functions 

• Apply the dental hygiene process of care (Assessment, Dental Hygiene Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation) as a framework for care delivery.
• Gather accurate patient data for systemic and oral comprehensive assessment; perform at least, but not limited to:
• Review of medical, dental and social history
• Take and/or update blood pressure
• Perform extra-oral and intra-oral exams
• Chart and record dental and periodontal findings
• Conduct risk assessment through patient interviewing
• Expose and evaluate diagnostic radiographs that are appropriate within treatment guidelines and ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) guidelines
• Document assessments findings in Electronic Dental Records (EDR) system.
• Document assessment findings and communicate these findings with the doctor of record to establish a dental hygiene treatment plan.
• Communicate and reinforce the treatment plan to the patient; discuss additional costs associated with treatment and obtain patient consent.
• Render appropriate dental hygiene care as dictated by the treatment plan and ethics of the profession; perform at least, but not limited to:
• Explanation of Procedure, Alternatives, Risks and answer patient questions (PARQ)
• Prophy
• Scaling and polishing
• Scaling and root planning
• Oral health education and prognosis
• Nutritional counseling and prognosis
• Smoking cessation and prognosis
• Local anesthesia or N2O when necessary
• Preventative and therapeutic fluoride, sealants and restorations as needed according to individual state scope of practice.
• Engage and educate the patient as a partner in care; recommend self-care based upon individual patient risks, conditions and capabilities.
• Continuously evaluate and counsel patient concerning oral health status and recommend modifications of the dental hygiene treatment plan to the doctor of record and the patient.
• Recommend patient products according to individual patient needs, risks and symptoms.
• Perform infection control procedures including disinfection and sterilization as appropriate; utilize appropriate barrier techniques.
• Communicate effectively with dental teams and patients as an educator and advocate.
• Adhere to infection control policy and guidelines; utilize PPE and engineering controls appropriately.
• Assist coworkers, maintain operatory and sharpen instruments.
• Strict adherence to Willamette Dental Group’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) policy. This includes, but is not limited to the use of N95 respirators and other PPE as required by regulatory bodies and company policy.
• Flexibility to travel to other WDG locations within a reasonable range as described in our Travel Policy as needed based on business need.

Education and Experience

Requires graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Licenses, Certifications and Registrations

• Current BLS certification required.
• Must have a current unrestricted dental hygiene license.
• Must have a current Oregon dental hygiene license in good standing.
• Local anesthesia endorsement; required.
• N2O permit; required and kept current.

Expected hourly range for this position depending on experience:

$55.15—$63.15 USD

Compensation

The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will be based on multiple factors, including but not limited to education, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity. 

This position is also eligible for incentive pay in accordance with the terms of the Company’s plan.

Company Benefits

Willamette Dental Group offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) retirement plan with 5% match, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, life insurance, voluntary disability insurance, commuter benefits and employee assistance program.

Paid Time Off (PTO): Eligible employees will accrue a minimum of 120 PTO hours per employment year in addition to seven paid holidays annually. The Company’s PTO program combines vacation and sick leave, which is more generous than Washington State’s Sick Leave Law.

Physical Requirements

The work is primarily performed while sitting and/or standing, but will require occasional walking, bending, stooping and carrying light items such as papers, books, or other supplies. The incumbent uses a computer and other standard office equipment to complete tasks.

Willamette Dental Group is an equal opportunity employer.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to an individual’s race (including physical characteristics historically associated with race), religion, color, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, veteran status, disability, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy-related condition, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position’s scope and function in the company.

This position may be exposed to PHI in the course of his/her duties, and will handle protected information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

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