Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist

The part-time Dental Hygienist provides preventative and therapeutic dental hygiene services to Tribal Dental Clinic patients, including oral health assessments, periodontal care, dental radiographs, and patient education. This position works collaboratively with the dental care team to promote oral health and support quality, patient-centered care.

Principal activities and responsibilities include:

• Providing dental hygiene services within the scope of Oregon licensure, including reviewing medical and dental histories, assessing oral health, obtaining and processing dental radiographs, scaling and root planning, prophylaxis, debridement, fluoride treatments, and dental sealants.
• Identifying and documenting signs of periodontal disease, dental conditions, and other oral health concerns; communicating findings to the dentist or dental therapist as appropriate.
• Educating patients on their oral health status, prevention care, home hygiene practices, and recommending follow-up treatment.
• Reviewing and updating patient medical and dental histories, medications, conditions, and relevant factors.
• Completing accurate, timely patient chart notes, treatment documentation, and applicable procedure coding in accordance with clinic standards.
• Conducting oral health screenings, including intraoral and extraoral assessments, within the scope of licensure.
• Communicating potential restorative or other treatment concerns to the dentist or dental therapist for evaluation.
• Assisting with planning and delivering oral health prevention programs and patient education activities.
• Following infection prevention and control procedures, including cleaning and sterilizing instruments, maintaining treatment areas, and completing assigned routine infection control tasks.
• Performing routine equipment care and reporting maintenance or safety concerns promptly.
• Maintaining current knowledge of dental hygiene practices, professional standards, and continuing education requirements.
• Managing patient appointment time effectively and collaborating with Dental Clinic and Health Services staff to support coordinated care.
• Monitoring dental hygiene supplies and equipment and assisting with inventory and ordering as assigned.
• Collaborating efficiently and effectively while consistently demonstrating professionalism and maintaining positive, respectful relationships with internal teams, external partners, and Tribal members.
• Other duties as directed by management.

Level of authority and restrictions include working independently without overseeing others, with minimal authority in decision-making.

Physical and mental demands include the ability to walk, talk, hear, use hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. May be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 40 pounds. Requires the ability to manage moderate levels of stress arising from schedules, workload, diverse or adversarial stakeholders, etc.

Working conditions and environment include moderate noise level with frequent interruptions and distractions. Regular exposure to biohazardous material including blood, body fluids, and blood-borne pathogens; strict adherence to OSHA standards and infection control protocols is required. Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, medicinal preparations, disinfectants, and other substances commonly found in a healthcare environment. Potential exposure to hazardous materials, including laboratory reagents, industrial cleaning agents, and limited ionizing radiation, depending on assigned work location. Position requires consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, masks, face shields, or other protective barriers as appropriate. Work is performed in a clinical healthcare setting, including exam rooms, treatment areas, and medical offices.

Work location: 1245 Fulton Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon 97420

Hours: Part-Time: 10-20 hours a week

Minimum job requirements include being 18 years of age or older, graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program and possession of a current, valid Oregon dental hygiene license, meeting applicable Oregon licensure and examination requirements and maintaining licensure in good standing, maintaining current CPR/BLS certification, holding authorization to administer local anesthesia, minimum of one (1) year of professional experience working as a licensed Dental Hygienist required, ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, verbally, in writing or by other acceptable means, state criminal background check and fingerprint-based background check will be required as a condition of employment, designated as safety-sensitive and is subject to pre-employment and other authorized drug and alcohol testing in accordance with company policy, must have employment eligibility in the U.S., and Indian preference will be observed in the hiring process.