Public Health Dental Hygienist

Job Description

Job Description

Public Health Dental Hygienist

Full-Time | Travel-Based Role | Boone, Colfax, Nance, Platte Counties

Join a mission-driven team bringing preventive dental care directly to underserved populations. As a Public Health Dental Hygienist, you’ll work beyond the traditional clinic setting, serving children, families, and older adults across schools, community programs, and long-term care facilities.

This role is ideal for someone who values autonomy, community impact, and meaningful patient relationships.

The Public Health Dental Hygienist provides preventive oral health services within their scope of practice, including screenings, education, and treatment. This role focuses on improving access to care and helping patients establish a dental home through outreach and community-based services.

• Perform oral health screenings, risk assessments, and periodontal evaluations
• Provide preventive treatments including cleanings, fluoride varnish, sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF)
• Deliver oral health education and promote the connection between oral and overall health
• Review health histories and record vitals (blood pressure, pulse)
• Document patient care and maintain accurate electronic records
• Travel throughout a four-county area to provide services in:
  • Head Start/Early Head Start programs
  • WIC clinics
  • Schools and preschools
  • Long-term care and assisted living facilities
• Maintain portable dental equipment and ensure proper operatory setup
• Support referrals and help patients establish ongoing dental care (“dental home”)
• Collaborate with the Office of Oral Health and Dentistry, including site visits and quarterly meetings
• Provide light administrative support as needed (filing, documentation, pre-authorizations)

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited Dental Hygiene program
• Current Nebraska Dental Hygienist license with Public Health Authorization
• Local anesthetic certification
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous dental hygiene or community health experience
• Experience with portable dental equipment
• Bilingual skills or experience working with interpreters

• Frequent travel within the service area
• Combination of seated and active work (standing, bending, lifting)
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds
• Manual dexterity for clinical and administrative tasks

• Meaningful, community-focused work
• Opportunity to serve diverse populations across the lifespan
• Collaborative public health environment
• Autonomy in a non-traditional clinical setting

• This position does not supervise staff
• Employees are subject to provisions of the Hatch Act (5 USC §1502)
• Employment is at-will and responsibilities may evolve to meet organizational needs
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with disabilities

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