Dual License- Advanced Dental Therapist/ Hygienist Instructor

The Dental Therapist promotes dental health by providing services within the scope of

practice as defined by the Collaborative Management Agreement including preventive services, restorative

services, and emergency/palliative treatment of dental pain. A Dental Therapist who has dual licensure and

holds a current license in Dental Hygiene may also provide care as described under the Dental Hygiene job

description.

I
• JOB RELATIONSHIPS:

A. REPORTS TO: Dental Clinic Director and Clinic Manager

B. SUPERVISES: Does not supervise

C. INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH: Dentists, Assistants, Hygienists, Office staff, Dental

students, Dental Therapy Students, Dental Hygiene students and patients of the Dental Clinic.


• HOURS OF WORK: 8 - 4:30 or as needed.


• DRESS CODE: Scrubs and protective clothing/equipment.


• ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK (Minimum qualifications necessary to function at

full productivity).

A. EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Master of Dental Therapy and Bachelor of Science in

Dental Hygiene from an accredited education program. Licensed by the state of Minnesota.

With additional education and testing, eligible for certification as an Advanced Dental Therapist

(ADT). Current CPR certification.

B. EXPERIENCE: Master of Dental Therapy and Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene - new

graduates may apply.

C. JOB KNOWLEDGE (Specific): Must possess and demonstrate basic level clinical skills

and patient care techniques.


• BUDGET: Must work in a cost efficient manner.


• CLIENTELE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY JOB: Patients, co-workers, students, and faculty


• PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB: Need for constant alertness to client/patient/employee needs

and/or potential problem areas. Occasional lifting, must be able to stand or sit for long periods of time, must

have good manual dexterity to use rotary equipment and other dental instruments within a patient's mouth.


• PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE JOB: Clean, well lighted, quiet, clinic type environment. Some

noise associated with dental equipment. Exposure to blood and body fluids.


• EQUIPMENT OR MACHINES USED ON THE JOB: Dental and x-ray equipment associated with the

Dental Clinic. Office equipment: fax, copier, computers, etc.


• MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

A. JUDGMENT AND INITIATIVE: Requires mental effort for problem solving and

decision making in a variety of patient or student interactions. Perform routine duties

following prescribed patient care protocols and procedures. Responsible for understanding

and responding appropriately to emergencies (CPR, oxygen, emergency drug kit).

B. INDEPENDENT ACTION: Work under the direction of the Collaborative

Management Agreement and provides restorative and preventative services to patients.

Problems that arise outside of the scope of practice are referred to the dentist.

C. EFFECT OF ERROR: Potential client harm or disruption of operations.

D. CONTACT WITH OTHERS: Patients, dentists, dental students, dental therapists,

dental therapy students, dental hygienists, dental hygiene students, staff, and other health

care providers.


• PRINCIPLE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, TASKS, AND AUTHORITIES:

A. RESPONSIBILITY: Provides dental services to patients as defined by a

Collaborative Management Agreement

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 40% DISCRETION: A

TASKS: DENTAL THERAPIST

1. Update medical and dental history of patients.

2. Examine patient's teeth, gums and oral cavity recording the presence of diseases and

abnormalities and report findings to dentist.

3. Expose dental images (bite wing, periapical and panoramic views) using sensors, and related

dental x-ray equipment. Read x-rays and alert dentist to observations.

4. Perform mechanical polishing

5. Apply cavity preventative agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants.

6. Administer anesthetics and/or provide nitrous oxide anxiolysis.

7. Prepare and restore primary and permanent teeth.

8. Preparation and placement of preformed crowns, re-cement crowns, place temporary

restorations, periodontal dressings and remove sutures.

9. Perform pulpotomies on primary teeth, pulp vitality testing, indirect and direct pulp capping on

primary and permanent teeth.

10. Extraction of primary teeth.

11. Place and removal of space maintainers.

12. Emergency palliative treatment of dental pain.

13. Stabilize re-implanted teeth.

14. Repair of defective prosthetic devices, tissue conditioning and soft reline.

15. Application of desensitizing medication or resin.

16. Fabrication of athletic mouthguards and soft occlusal guards.

17. Other tasks as assigned under the Collaborative Management Agreement.

TASKS: ADVANCED DENTAL THERAPIST

18. The Advanced Dental Therapist will provide all the services as a Dental Therapist as defined in

the Collaborative Management Agreement.

19. Provide an oral evaluation and assessment of dental disease and formulate an individualized

treatment plan authorized by the collaborating dentist.

20. Extract periodontally involved adult teeth

B. RESPONSIBILITY: Provide Dental Hygiene Services to Patients (see Dental

Hygienist position description)

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 40% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Remove calculus, stains and plaque from teeth.

2. Perform root planing as a periodontal therapy.

C. RESPONSIBILITY: Oversees the clinical training of pre-doctoral dental

students, dental therapy students and dental hygiene students in accordance

with standards and practices developed and implemented by the University of

Minnesota School of Dentistry.

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 10% DISCRETION: A

TASKS: DENTAL THERAPIST

1. Provides direct supervision of the restorative services provided by dental students,

dental therapy students and dental hygiene students during pediatric clinic.

TASKS: ADVANCED DENTAL THERAPIST

1. Provides direct supervision of the evaluations, preventive and restorative services

provided by dental students, dental therapy students and dental hygiene students during

pediatric clinic.

TASKS: HYGIENIST

1. Instruct hygiene students and dental students in w ork techniques in providing oral

prophylaxis and other periodontal procedures for pat ients. .

D. RESPONSIBILITY: Patient Education

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Help patients develop and maintain good oral health by developing an individualized

prevention plan for each patient.

2. Explain the relationship between diet and oral health.

3. Explain the relationship between oral health and overall health.

4. Explain smoking cessation as necessary.

5. Discuss oral complications from medication as necessary.

6. Discuss fluoride and benefits as necessary.

7. Explain how to select toothbrushes and show patients how to brush and floss their teeth

or discuss flossing alternatives for interdental care.

8. Use models of teeth and chairside education books to explain oral hygiene.

E. RESPONSIBILITY: Set up, sanitize and sterilization.

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Prepares patient, arranges instruments and set-ups.

2. Prepares operatories using infection control techniques.

3. Maintains supplies, equipment and clinic cleanliness.

4. Sterilizes instruments including cleaning, wrapping and autoclaving.

F. RESPONSIBILITY: Serves on internal and external Rice committees as

assigned.

TASKS:

.

1. Participates in internal or external committees as assigned.

2. Other duties as assigned.

G. RESPONSIBILITY: Service Excellence

TASKS:

1. Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the Service Excellence philosophy by

adhering to behaviors outlined in Rice's "Standards of Excellence".

H. RESPONSIBILITY: Continuous Quality Improvement

TASKS:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the CQI philosophy.

a. Participate in CQI training activities or CQI teams if appropriate.

b. Demonstrate sensitivity to customers and their needs.

c. Interacts appropriately with internal customers, i.e. coworkers within

department, staff across departments.

d. Interact appropriately with external customers, i.e. patients, families,

medical staff, vendors.

e. Role model positive behaviors.

I. RESPONSIBILITY: Safety

TASKS:

1. Maintain and promote a safe environment for all patients, visitors and

employees.

2. Consistently follow all policies, practices and work rules.

3. Do not use shortcuts or work-a-rounds that may reduce safety or

increase risk.

4. Stay alert, act responsibly and use common sense to reduce risks.

5. Report actual events and good catches as soon as possible.

6. Eliminate hazards and identify and report unsafe systems.

7. Complete all mandatory safety education and attend safety sessions.

8. Review and understand the Safety Program as identified on RiceNet.

9. Seek answers to questions you have about the Safety Program.

10. Develop appropriate infection control policies, procedures and

practices for the Clinic in cooperation with the Rice Infection Control

Nurse.

2019-01