Dental Hygienist

About the Role

Located in Albany, this full‑time Dental Hygienist position works in collaboration with a dental team to provide dental care and education to patients. The hygienist utilizes interpersonal skills to motivate and partner with patients in maintaining oral health wellness and preventing oral disease. All duties are performed within the parameters of the state’s Dental Practice Act, Willamette Dental’s mission, evidence‑based treatment philosophy, and core values. Hygienists are encouraged to pursue education and achieve the highest licensure and certification allowed by each state’s Dental Practice Act, enabling them to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of dental mid‑level providers.

Responsibilities

• Apply the dental hygiene process of care (Assessment, Dental Hygiene Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation) as a framework for care delivery.
• Gather accurate patient data for systemic and oral comprehensive assessment; review medical, dental, and social history.
• Take and/or update blood pressure.
• Perform extra‑oral and intra‑oral exams.
• Chart and record dental and periodontal findings.
• Conduct risk assessment through patient interviewing.
• Expose and evaluate diagnostic radiographs appropriate within treatment guidelines and ALARA principles.
• Document assessment findings in the Electronic Dental Records (EDR) system.
• Communicate findings with the doctor of record to establish a dental hygiene treatment plan.
• Communicate and reinforce the treatment plan to the patient; discuss associated costs and obtain patient consent.
• Render appropriate dental hygiene care per the treatment plan and professional ethics, including:
• Explanation of Procedure, Alternatives, Risks and answer patient questions (PARQ)
• Prophylaxis
• Scaling and polishing
• Scaling and root planning
• Oral health education and prognosis
• Nutritional counseling and prognosis
• Smoking cessation and prognosis
• Local anesthesia or N₂O when necessary
• Preventative and therapeutic fluoride, sealants, and restorations as needed per individual state scope of practice
• Engage and educate the patient as a partner in care; recommend self‑care based on individual patient risks, conditions, and capabilities.
• Continuously evaluate and counsel patient concerning oral health status; recommend modifications of the dental hygiene treatment plan to the doctor of record and the patient.
• Recommend patient products according to individual patient needs, risks, and symptoms.
• Perform infection control procedures including disinfection and sterilization; utilize appropriate barrier techniques.
• Communicate effectively with dental teams and patients as an educator and advocate.
• Adhere to infection control policy and guidelines; utilize PPE and engineering controls appropriately.
• Assist coworkers, maintain operatory, and sharpen instruments.
• Strict adherence to Willamette Dental's Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) policy, including use of N95 respirators and other PPE as required.
• Flexibility to travel to other WD locations within a reasonable range as described in the Travel Policy as needed based on business need.
• Reliable and predictable attendance is essential.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Current BLS certification required.
• Current unrestricted dental hygiene license.
• Current Oregon dental hygiene license in good standing.
• Local anesthesia endorsement required.
• N₂O permit required and kept current.

Pay

Expected hiring range: $52.00 to $61.00 per hour.

The actual base pay offered will be based on education, job‑related knowledge/skills, experience, geographical location, and internal equity; eligible for incentive pay per the company plan.

Schedule

Full‑time position with 4‑10 hour shifts.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and 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