Cornelia Begay, RDH
Teec Nos Pos,AZ
Summary
Dynamic Dental Hygienist with extensive experience at IHS-Four Corners Regional Health Center, excelling in patient education and periodontal evaluation. Proven ability to enhance oral health outcomes through effective treatment plans and community outreach initiatives. Proficient in Dentrix software, demonstrating strong patient management skills and a commitment to preventive care.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Dental Hygienist
IHS-Four Corners Regional Health Center
Teec Nos Pos, AZ
07.2020 - Current
- Conducted comprehensive dental hygiene treatment that includes providing oral hygiene instructions, performing scaling and root planing, thorough prophy procedures, applying fluoride varnish and sealants, providing appropriate oral hygiene strategies in clinical and community setting.
- Correctly administered local anesthetic and adjunctive therapies such as fluoride treatments and irrigation.
- Worked with dentists in developing and implementing personalized care plans for dental patients.
- Conducted patient interviews and gathered patient medical and dental histories, adding to dental charts.
- Captured patients' dental radiographs and provided to dentist for interpretation and diagnosis.
- Maintained accurate medical and dental records by documenting important patient data in Dentrix, Dexis, Electronic Health Records, and RPMS.
- Improved and developed knowledge through continuing education courses and seminars.
- Assisted in Shiprock Service Unit (SSU) school-based sealant program for students by providing screenings, sealants, fluoride, and oral health education.
- Assisted with Give Kids A Smile event at Northern Navajo Medical Center.
- Trained expanded function dental assistants to provide basic periodontal services by improving skills in ultrasonic scaling and implementing oral hygiene methods.
Dental Hygienist
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation
Tuba City, AZ
06.2019 - 07.2020
- Provided clinical periodontal therapy and oral hygiene instructions to dental patients that have Type I and Type II Diabetes or are pre-diabetic.
- Acted as a liaison between Dental program and Diabetes program, performed dental screenings, generated quarterly reports, and organized dental exams for diabetic patients.
- Conducted comprehensive dental hygiene treatment that include providing oral hygiene instructions, performing scaling and root planing, thorough prophy procedures, applying fluoride and sealants, and providing appropriate oral hygiene strategies in clinical and community setting.
- Screened patients for signs of oral cancer, lesions, or disease by visually and manually inspecting mouth and gums.
- Correctly administered local anesthetic and adjunctive therapies such as fluoride treatments and irrigation.
- Maintained accurate medical and dental records by documenting important patient data in Dentrix and Electronic Health Records.
- Conducted patient interviews and gathered patient medical and dental histories, adding to dental charts.
- Worked with dentists in developing and implementing personalized care plans for dental patients.
Dental Hygienist
IHS-Four Corners Regional Health Center
Teec Nos Pos, AZ
06.2016 - 07.2019
- Conducted comprehensive dental hygiene treatment that includes providing oral hygiene instructions, performing scaling and root planing, thorough prophy procedures, applying fluoride varnish and sealants, providing appropriate oral hygiene strategies in clinical and community setting.
- Correctly administered local anesthetic and adjunctive therapies such as fluoride treatments and irrigation.
- Worked with dentists in developing and implementing personalized care plans for dental patients.
- Conducted patient interviews and gathered patient medical and dental histories, adding to dental charts.
- Captured patients' dental radiographs and provided to dentist for interpretation and diagnosis.
- Maintained accurate medical and dental records by documenting important patient data in Dentrix, Dexis, Electronic Health Records, and RPMS.
- Improved and developed knowledge through continuing education courses and seminars.
- Assisted in Shiprock Service Unit (SSU) school-based sealant program for students by providing screenings, sealants, fluoride, and oral health education.
- Trained expanded function dental assistants to provide basic periodontal services by improving skills in ultrasonic scaling and implementing oral hygiene methods.
- Assisted in Give Kids A Smile event at Northern Navajo Medical Center.
Dental Hygienist
Tuba City Regional Health Care
Tuba City, AZ
11.2011 - 06.2016
- Specialized in preventive oral health by instructing patients proper oral hygiene care and other preventive dental care, performed scaling and root planing, applied fluoride varnish, sealants, and taught appropriate oral hygiene strategies in clinical and community setting.
- Collaborated treatment plan with dentist and other health care providers.
- Used process of care to assess needs, plan and implement care.
- Specialized in working with dentist in treating special needs patients.
- Conducted basic expanded function periodontal course for dental assistants to update dental hygiene skills and provide instructions on equipment and oral hygiene methods.
- Planned and administered dental hygiene program that involved prevention, treatment, recall, and education.
- Maintained accurate medical and dental records by documenting important patient data in Dentrix, Electronic Health Records.
- Conducted patient interviews and gathered patient medical and dental histories, adding to dental charts.
- Worked with dentists in developing and implementing personalized care plans for dental patients.
Education
Masters of Education - Educational Leadership
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ08-2021
Bachelor of Science - Dental Hygiene
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ05-2010
Certificate - Dental Assisting
University of New Mexico-Gallup Branch
Albuquerque, NM05-2001
High School Diploma -
Rock Point Community School
Rock Point, AZ05-1991
Skills
- Patient management
- Medical records management
- Prophylaxis techniques
- Patient education and counseling
- Relationship building
- Anesthetic administration
- Dental disease management
- Sealant application
- Dentrix proficiency
- Dental office administration
- Preventive oral health education
- Root planing and scaling
- Nutrition counseling
- Periodontal evaluation
- Community outreach
Affiliations
Arizona Dental Hygiene Association
Indian Health Service Periodontal Educators
Four Corners Regional Health Center Epidemiological Response Team 2021
Four Corners Regional Health Center Employee Association 2020
Four Corners Regional Health Center Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Health Fair Committee 2016
Accomplishments
- Trained and mentored Expanded Function dental assistants who completed the IHS Basic Periodontal Course.
- Created community outreach programs to educate public on oral health and care.
- Member of the Northern Navajo Medical Center Dental School-Based Sealant Program that traveled to schools to provide dental screenings, sealants and fluoride varnish.
- Involved in the yearly Give Kids A Smile event at Northern Navajo Medical Center Dental department.
Languages
Navajo
Timeline
Dental Hygienist
IHS-Four Corners Regional Health Center
07.2020 - Current
Dental Hygienist
Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation
06.2019 - 07.2020
Dental Hygienist
IHS-Four Corners Regional Health Center
06.2016 - 07.2019
Dental Hygienist
Tuba City Regional Health Care
11.2011 - 06.2016
Masters of Education - Educational Leadership
Northern Arizona University
Bachelor of Science - Dental Hygiene
Northern Arizona University
Certificate - Dental Assisting
University of New Mexico-Gallup Branch
High School Diploma -
Rock Point Community School