Career Center

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Practices clinical dental hygiene according to the Missouri Dental Practice Act
• Administers local anesthesia and takes of radiographs
• Maintains patient records using an electronic health record, including documenting examination findings, procedures, and clinical recommendations
• Sterilizes dental instruments and equipment, restock treatment areas, and maintain materials and supplies as needed
• Participates in maintenance of patient safety and quality assurance measures
• Serves as educator and mentor to students
• Delivers all levels of clinical instruction and supervision for pre-doctoral students
• Teaches, oversees, and assesses students in the clinical and community settings
• Coordinates and maintains patient flow through the oral health screening process
• Educates patients, parents, guardians and school personnel on various oral health topics
• Conducts and supervises oral health screenings and delivers screening results
• Participates in the advancement of the Score 1 for Health Program and other oral health community outreach programs
• Ensures adherence to all regulatory governance, universal precautions, and/or standard protocols
• Makes certain safety protocols are followed and with federal regulations

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Dental Hygiene or Dental Hygienist Certification from an accredited School of Dental Hygiene
• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) licensure in the state of Missouri that includes permits for infiltration and block anesthesia as a registered dental hygienist by the Missouri Dental Board
• One-year experience as an RDH in a pediatric and/or community health clinical environment
• Must be knowledgeable and skillful in age-appropriate health promotion, guidance, and primary care skills
• Demonstrated ability to decipher and interpret information and able to respond/react effectively and appropriately
• Able to adapt to different health literacy levels when interacting with a variety of individuals
• Demonstrated ability to interact professionally and appropriately with patients, parents, and school/program administrators
• Must be able to function as a team leader to effectively oversee screenings [instructions, training, charting, etc.]
• Must have excellent customer relations skills for decision making and problem solving

Preferred Qualifications:

• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) licensure in the 4-state area Kansas and/or Arkansas and/or Oklahoma
• Clinical dental hygiene experience for 3-5 years, and a nitrous oxide permit
• Education in addition to the dental hygiene degree to include public health, community engagement, or other relevant training