Dental Hygienist

Willamette Dental • Nampa, ID

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Dental Hygienist collaborates with a dental team to provide dental care and education, motivate and partner with patients to maintain oral health, and help prevent oral disease. Duties are performed within the applicable state Dental Practice Act, Willamette Dental’s mission, evidence-based treatment philosophy, and core values. Hygienists are encouraged to pursue education and the highest levels of licensure and certification permitted by their state. Fully credentialed hygienists can provide exceptional care and help shape the future of dental mid-level providers.

This is a full-time position of 30 hours per week, scheduled as three 10-hour shifts, at the Nampa practice. The expected hourly hiring range is $45 to $53, depending on experience and other factors. The position is eligible for incentive pay under the Company’s plan.

Work is primarily performed sitting and/or standing, with occasional walking, bending, stooping, and carrying light items. The role uses a computer and standard office equipment. The position may involve exposure to protected health information, which must be handled consistently with HIPAA.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program.
• Current BLS certification.
• Local anesthesia endorsement.
• Current N2O permit.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Use the dental hygiene process of care—assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation—as a framework for care delivery.
• Gather accurate patient information for comprehensive systemic and oral assessments, including reviewing medical, dental, and social histories; taking or updating blood pressure; conducting extra-oral and intra-oral exams; charting dental and periodontal findings; and conducting risk assessments through patient interviews.
• Expose and evaluate diagnostic radiographs appropriate to treatment guidelines and ALARA guidelines.
• Document assessment findings in the Electronic Dental Records system and communicate them to the doctor of record to establish a dental hygiene treatment plan.
• Explain and reinforce treatment plans to patients, discuss associated costs, and obtain patient consent.
• Provide appropriate dental hygiene care according to the treatment plan and professional ethics, including explaining procedures, alternatives, and risks; prophylaxis; scaling and polishing; scaling and root planing; oral health education; nutritional counseling; smoking cessation counseling; local anesthesia or N2O when necessary; and preventive or therapeutic fluoride, sealants, and restorations within the applicable state scope of practice.
• Engage and educate patients as partners in care, recommending self-care based on individual risks, conditions, and capabilities.
• Continuously evaluate and counsel patients about oral health status and recommend treatment-plan modifications to the doctor of record and patient.
• Recommend patient products based on individual needs, risks, and symptoms.
• Perform infection-control procedures, including disinfection and sterilization, and use appropriate barrier techniques, PPE, and engineering controls.
• Communicate effectively with dental teams and patients as an educator and advocate.
• Assist coworkers, maintain the operatory, and sharpen instruments.
• Comply with Willamette Dental’s PPE policy, including use of N95 respirators and other PPE required by regulators and company policy.
• Travel to other Willamette Dental locations within a reasonable range when needed based on business needs and the Travel Policy.
• Maintain reliable and predictable attendance and report to work at scheduled times.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan with 5% match
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Life insurance
• Voluntary disability insurance
• Commuter benefits
• Two complimentary pairs of Fig scrubs for clinical roles
• Employee assistance program
• At least 120 hours of PTO per employment year, prorated for employees working less than 40 hours per week
• Seven paid holidays annually
• Incentive pay in accordance with the Company’s plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree