Job Title: Dental Hygienist

Job Classification: Full-Time, Non-exempt

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Reporting Relationship: Director of Dental Care

Location: On-site, Travel between all clinical locations is required.

Primary Accountability (Job Purpose):

The Dental Hygienist plays a key role in coordinating and navigating dental care services. This position advocates for oral health, supports disease prevention efforts, and engages patients through motivational interviewing and goal setting. The Dental Hygienist also delivers preventive dental services and participates in outreach activities for patients and families. Collaboration with a multidisciplinary team is essential to ensure effective patient care and to foster a welcoming and high-quality experience for all patients.

Essential Functions:

Plans, organizes, and implements dental outreach events and oral health education activities in the community.
Identifies and enrolls high-risk patients into the oral health services program.
Provides preventive oral health care and screening services both in-house and in community settings.
Maintains and updates tracking systems for patient and community outreach contacts.
Collects and submits monthly reports on patient engagement and community outreach metrics.
Collaborates with primary care providers and the Dental Director to improve oral health services for children and pregnant women.
Links patients to appropriate community health resources in accordance with regulatory and organizational guidelines.
Builds and maintains relationships with referral sources and multidisciplinary teams, including medical, dental, prenatal providers, case managers, and outreach staff.
Performs dental hygiene duties as permitted under Georgia law.
Participates in interdisciplinary care coordination and ensure follow-up services for oral health patients.
Stays current on oral health practices and maintain working knowledge of dental benefits and insurance plans.
Provides administrative support including appointment scheduling, fee management, and maintaining patient confidentiality.
Ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations and treat all patient information as confidential.
Participates in quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) activities to support organizational performance.
Utilizes electronic health record systems such as Dentrix Ascend and AthenaNet, and stay updated on new digital tools relevant to the role.
Supports team goals and performs additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
Education: Diploma from an accredited dental hygiene program.
Experience: 5+ years of relevant experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Licensure & Certifications: Successful completion of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.
Licensure & Certifications: Completion of the Georgia clinical board examination.
Licensure & Certifications: Licensed as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in the state of Georgia.
Licensure & Certifications: Preferred: RDH-AP (Advanced Practice) designation.
Knowledge of dental terminology and oral health practices.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to interact professionally with diverse stakeholders including patients, families, healthcare professionals, and community organizations.
Strong analytical skills and familiarity with statistical methods.
Ability to create and manage systems and processes effectively.
Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of working independently or collaboratively.
Interest in community health and health equity initiatives.
Ability to perform under pressure and meet quality criteria.
Ability to organize, multi-task, plan and set priorities with minimal supervision.
Demonstrated cultural competence and ability to work effectively with diverse populations.
Demonstrate poise, tact, and diplomacy with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information and situations.
Punctual work attendance, adhering to regular schedule unless approved by supervisor.

Physical Demands:

Ability to remain in a stationary position (standing or sitting) for extended periods while assisting with dental procedures
Frequently moves within the clinical environment to access equipment, supplies, and assist patients; may occasionally need to position self by bending, kneeling, or reaching.
Regularly operates dental instruments and equipment requiring fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination.
Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of objects up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Work Environment:

The role is primarily performed in a standard dental clinic or school-based setting, which requires adherence to OSHA and infection control protocols.
Frequent exposure to dental instruments, equipment, and materials, including potential contact with airborne particles, bodily fluids, and communicable diseases; use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required.
The environment is fast-paced and team-oriented, involving regular interaction with patients, dentists, hygienists, and administrative staff.

Additional Duties:

Additional duties and responsibilities may be added to this job description at any time. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related responsibilities as requested by their supervisor.

HEALTH EDUCATION ASSESSMENT AND LEADERSHIP INC jobs

Dental Hygienist