State of Maryland

SKILLED SERVICE     BARGAINING UNIT: D      OVERTIME ELIGIBLE     

A Dental Hygienist III is the advanced level of work at Maryland Department of Health (MDH) designated Court Involved (CI) Facilities providing dental hygiene treatments and services in community health programs, inpatient or residential facilities.  Employees in this classification prepare, coordinate, and present dental hygiene educational materials and programs to individuals and groups.  Employees in this class do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a dentist or other dental healthcare professional.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  Employees may be required to physically restrain patients/clients displaying violent or aggressive behavior.  The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.  The work may require lifting and positioning non-ambulatory patients/clients and lifting wheelchairs and other heavy equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Dental Hygienist III is differentiated from the Dental Hygienist II in that in addition to providing dental hygiene treatments to patients and clients, the Dental Hygienist III also promotes community dental health programs in a local health department or provides orientation and ongoing in-service training of employees at State healthcare facilities. The Dental Hygienist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision

Prepares and presents articles, audiovisual programs and reports for dental hygiene educational programs and special events including health fairs and National Dental Hygiene Week to diverse community groups, such as expectant parents, day care centers, schools and senior citizen centers;

Provides advice and guidance to students in dental hygiene programs;

Prepares materials and presents dental hygiene orientation and follow-up in-service training to direct patient client care staff;

Performs dental cleaning by removing calcareous deposits and stains and polishing the surface of the teeth;

Administers gum treatments and applies fluoride and medicinal agents to the teeth to promote good dental health;

Prepares patients and organizes equipment to facilitate dental treatments;

Obtains patient medical histories and maintains dental files, charts and records;

Sterilizes and maintains dental instruments, equipment, supplies, medications, and the dental room;

Exposes, develops and mounts x ray films;

Participates in surveys to determine the prevalence of tooth decay or periodontal disease;

Takes impressions of the mouth for study models;

May assign, review and approve the work of Dental Assistants and other non-licensed staff;

Performs other related duties.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners under the licensing requirements for Dental Hygienist.

Experience: Four years of experience as a Dental Hygienist, two years of which must have been in public heath dentistry, or teaching in a dentistry or dental hygiene program.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute possession of a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from an accredited college or university for two years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Dental Hygienist or Specialist classifications or Dental Hygienist or Specialist specialty codes in the dental field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess and maintain a current certification as a Dental Hygienist from the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete training in and maintain current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties may be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit D, Health and Human Service Nonprofessionals classes.  As provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.   An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305. 

July 1 2023 12:00AM