Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist – Several Openings

Full‑Time (40 Hours), Part‑Time and Per Diem Hours Available

General Responsibility:
To perform dental measures designed to preserve teeth and prevent the spread of oral disease. To assess dental condition and needs of patient using screening procedures, including medical history review, dental charting, and period-charting.

• Providing oral prophylaxis to remove calculus, accretions and stain from both supragingival and subgingival tooth surfaces by scaling and root planning
• Providing oral health education, including oral cancer screening, teaching patients how to prevent tooth decay and gum disease
• Applying pit and fissure sealants and topical fluoride treatments
• Taking radiographs as directed by Dentist
• Organizing, maintains and sets up treatment rooms, sterilization area and dental lab area on a daily basis
• Setting up and breaks down the dental operatory before and after each use
• Disinfecting and sterilizing of dental instruments, equipment, materials and supplies consistent with current infection control standards and Tri‑County infection control policies and procedures
• Maintaining and assuring function of all dental equipment including X‑ray units, X‑ray processor, autoclave, ultrasonic cleaner, etc
• Disposing of and preparing “red bag waste” for pick up by waste removal company
• Recording clinical charting in electronic dental record as directed by Dentist
• Making accurate, legible, complete and signed entries in the patient’s handwritten or electronic dental record in accordance with Tri‑County policy and procedure
• Protecting patient confidentiality at all times
• Complying with all Tri‑County policies and procedures
• Participating in continuing education programs, including one (1) annual training program on compliance with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, to satisfy the requirements of the RI State Board and the RI Dental Hygienists Association to maintain a RI Dental Hygiene license
• Assisting Dentists and Dental Assistants as needed

• Graduation from a Dental Hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and approved by the RI State Board
• Ability to attend to multiple tasks at the same time and to prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols
• Effective oral and written communication skills in English are required
• Effective oral communication skills in a second language welcomed

• Certification as a Dental Hygienist
• CPR/AED Certification at the healthcare provider level
• Requires a comprehensive knowledge of dental hygiene techniques and procedures for all phases of general dentistry
• The Dental Hygienist must be a patient educator and promoter of optimum, oral health
• Basic computer skills a necessity, working knowledge of digital radiography and paperless charting preferred
• Expanded function ability, such as placing antimicrobials and administering local anesthetic agents preferred
• The ability to work well with children and adults from a wide diversity of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds is necessary
• Creative work with other healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal results for the Center’s patient from a system of integrated primary health care
• Must work a minimum of two (2) evening clinics per week
• Demonstrate an understanding of everyone’ experiences, every day
• Ensuring the delivery of services that recognizes and respects that every moment matters

We offer an excellent, competitive salary and benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, and Disability insurance, as well as a 403b Savings Plan/Pension with an Agency match, Vacation, Sick, Holiday time and access to Agency‑sponsored EAP services for employees and their families. Many training opportunities are available that include, but are not limited to various educational experiences, certificate programs, CPR and First Aid training as well as ongoing occasions for additional learning.

Tri‑County is a qualified entity for employees to access loan repayment opportunities.

Please visit our website countyri.org to apply and view other current openings. Click on the Career Opportunities link on the bottom of the page.

Tri-County Community Action Agency is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Tri-County is committed to treating all applicants and employees fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, limited English proficiency (LEP), gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.