Category:Dental

From Guide to YKHC Medical Practices

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COVID-19 Update

April 23 YKHC Dental Opening This Week for Limited Routine Services

Find more information about COVID-19 at the COVID-19 wiki page.

General Dental Information

The Dental Department provides a broad range of dental treatment services in Bethel including emergency services, preventive, and basic restorative services. In Bethel we are able to provide basic dental services and uncomplicated root canal treatment. The Bethel clinic also provides crown, bridge, and denture services. As in any dental practice, some complicated cases have to be referred to specialists.

We now have full-time Dental Health Aide Therapists (DHATs) at all of the subregional clinics, offering emergency, preventive, and basic restorative services. Our dentists and DHATs make periodic visits to all the 48 village clinics in the YK Delta.

Services in Bethel are provided in the Community Health Services Building (CHSB) dental clinic and in the YKDRH operating room. Community prevention projects are an important aspect of the program. The hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Patients range in age from infants to elderly.

Mechanism Used to Meet Patient Care Needs

Walk-ins or emergency patients are assessed for their presenting chief complaint. Appointment patients are given an oral examination and x-rays. Based on these assessments, a treatment plan is developed for the patient.

The Dental Department is staffed with 10.5 full time dentists, Dental Health Aide Therapists (Subregional Clinics / Village and Bethel-based), two dental hygienists, 22 dental assistants, and five administration staff. A dentist is assigned to be "on call" for after-hours emergencies (via the hospital ER).

Process Used for Acting on Both Positive and Negative Variances

When the Dental Department experiences a positive variance staff utilize the time to restock shelves, order supplies and/or clean up the clinic. When a negative variance is experienced, staff who are off are called in. Part-time employees are also utilized. Overtime is paid to the assistants.

Dental Consults

The On call Dentist can be reached through Tiger Connect by tiger texting the "Dental on Call" role, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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