Dental Hygiene Supervisor

Working under the direct supervision of the Dental Director, the Hygiene Department Supervisor is responsible for the direct provision of oral hygiene and appropriate preventative services to dental patients of the center, as well as overseeing the other Dental Hygienists. The Hygiene Department Supervisor is also responsible for providing appropriate oral health information to individuals.

Representative Duties:

Provides high quality clinical services to patients of Fenway Health's Dentistry Department

• Maintains full appointment schedule for office practice and serves as a role model for other hygienists
• Maintains necessary credentialing, licensure and continuing education requirements
• Assists in the oral health management of all clinic patients
• Obtains baseline oral hygiene assessment data based upon accepted principles of oral hygiene and periodontal care
• Provides oral health education and appropriate individual counseling for all center dental patients
• Provides clinical oral hygiene services including dental prophylaxis, scaling, sealant application and fluoride application consistent with accepted professional practices and standards and in compliance with applicable state law and the center's clinical protocols
• Performs independent procedures as delegated and directed by a dentist in accordance with state regulations and law as well as Dental Department protocol and directive
• Assists with various other clinical functions of the Dentistry Department as appropriate and if time permits
• Evaluate operational systems, suggest improvements, and implement approved changes
• Maintains own administrative schedule as approved by the Dental Director

Performs non-Clinical Activities related to patient Care

• Records patient-hygienist transactions as they occur in the patient's dental record so that the dental record accurately and completely reflects the nature of the contact, the condition of the patient and the care or treatment provided
• Integration of appropriate patient dental hygiene care with other health care professionals involved in the patient's health care management
• Assists in the maintenance of all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directive and policies as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues
• Maintains hygiene sharpening program with outside vendor in accordance with SPD requirement.
• Receives and places necessary telephone calls consistent with professional matters, clinic business and patient care of the Dental Department
• Assists with various other non-clinical functions of the Dentistry Department as appropriate and if time permits
• Ensures the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental Department directive and center policy as well as state federal regulations(s)
• Complies in full with the center's Exposure Control Plan
• Travels when necessary to meet operational needs
• As directed by a supervisor, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives
• Responsible for personal compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and center rules, regulations, protocols and procedures governing the practice of dental hygiene and the clinical provision of dental hygiene services as well as those relating to, but not limited to, personnel issues, work place safety, public health and confidentiality

Effectively communicate within the Dental Department and across departments

• Communicate needs to Dental Director and ensure timely resolution of any issues
• Serve as a liaison to the sterile processing department and participate in co-department meetings to improve efficiency and collaboration
• Serve on the Infection Control Committee as a representative for dental
• Ensure operatory chair maintenance is complete for all hygiene operatories

Manage the inventory of hygiene supplies, equipment, and materials and maintains thorough and accurate documentation and logs as appropriate.

• Monitor, organize and ensure appropriate and adequate clinic supply of hygiene inventory
• Manage equipment/instrument maintenance and relevant logs
• Responsible for managing hygiene department specific equipment repairs
• Manage and maintain patient sample orders via working relationship with Colgate representative for patient recalls and yearly for FCHC events (PRIDE, AA5K, etc.

Provide training and supervision to assigned staff following FCHC policies and procedures

• Manage the interviewing and hiring process for all dental hygienists to maintain full staff necessary for patient needs
• Adhere to the best practices of successful staff supervision
• Provide all dental hygienists with a comprehensive program orientation
• Ensure that staff receive sufficient training regarding the full range of their responsibilities including infection control procedures, competencies, dental health record procedures, reappointment procedures, etc.
• Assists in arranging continuing professional education, in-service training and orientation
• Delegate daily/weekly tasks and other responsibilities to other dental hygienists
• Maintenance of all daily/weekly duties and tracking
• Biweekly timesheet approvals for all dental hygienists
• Arranges monthly one-on-one direct report meetings and regular dental hygienist staff meetings
• Arranges and leads mon hygiene team meetings
• Participate in weekly supervisor meetings for effective department communication
• Provide regular annual written evaluations and competency assessments of assigned staff following agency evaluation guidelines
• Completes annual updated competencies on all dental hygienists
• Make employment-related decisions regarding assigned staff within the scope of defined authority and following established agency and program guidelines
• Coordinates dental hygiene prescreening schedule and maintains compliance for department
• Schedule full/part time and per diem dental hygienists to ensure adequate clinical coverage include use of remote access to evaluate schedule coverage in the event of sick calls

Meets Agency Participatory Expectations

• Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
• As a member of the supervisor team, participates in dental department environment of care rounding
• Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
• Adheres to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
• Attends all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities
• Serves on agency committees and in professional organizations when requested

Performs other duties as required

• Graduation from an accredited School of Dental Hygiene
• Unrestricted license to practice Oral Hygiene in the State of Massachusetts
• Dental Anesthesia Permit
• Current CPR (BLS) certification
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents such as procedure manuals, operating and maintenance instructions, and governmental regulations
• Working knowledge of all phases of the field of the dental hygiene
• Skill in the techniques of oral hygiene procedures and the use of equipment, instruments, and materials
• Knowledge and practice of preventive dentistry and ability to instruct patients
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients and staff

Supervisory Responsibility

This position is responsible for supervising the Dental Hygienists.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures, unpleasant odors and/or loud noises
• Moderate physical activity Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds, assisting with patients and standing and/or walking for most the day
• Will work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.

LGBTQ-identified persons, people of color, and others from historically underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply.