Dental Hygienist

This position is located in the Clinical Services, Dental Clinic, at Gallup Indian Medical Center, Gallup, New Mexico. The purpose of this position is to perform advanced prophylactic and preventive dental procedures in the treatment of patients with severe dental problems such as severe caries and periodontal disease and medically compromised patients, such as those with diabetes or cardiac complications.

• Completes screening procedures, both general health and oral health, interprets routine radiographs, and works with dentist to complete examination and prepares treatment plans.
• Performs suture removal, changes dressings, applies topical anethetics and provides home care instructions.
• Assists the dentist by making repairs and adjustments to the teeth by smoothing rough edges of restorations, removing overhanging margins of fillings, reducing sharp edges of fractured teeth, polishing and finishing amalgam restorations, and inserting temporary fillings in teeth.
• Performs oral prophylaxis and scaling/root planning, completes protective restorations, and administers local anesthesia.
• Provides community-based dental prevention programs. Community-based preventative activities such as group and individual education, oral hygiene instructions, nutritional counseling, fluoride application, and sealant placement.