Part-Time - Dental Hygienist

Overview & Benefits

Oakland County is more than just a workplace. It is a place where you can make a real difference. As one of Michigan’s leading public service organizations, we are committed to strengthening communities, delivering essential services, and improving the quality of life for nearly 1.3 million residents. When you join our team, you become part of a mission-driven workforce guided by integrity, innovation, and a passion for public service. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters.

Apply today and help shape the future of Oakland County, where we are All Ways Moving Forward. For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit: https://www.oakgov.com/government/human-resources/benefits/new-hire

General Summary

Location: Pontiac, MI
Compensation: $32.33 - $43.31 per hour
This is a part time position with an expected weekly commitment of roughly 20 hours working on site within Oakland County. Provides oral health care to patients who reside in the Oakland County Children’s Village. Provides oral screenings for children and adults in outreach settings and at the Health Division. Examines, provides prophylaxis, applies fluoride, and x-rays patient's mouths to combat oral disease and maintain optimum oral health. Provides education to patients regarding the progression of oral disease and ways to prevent it. Assists the dentist during oral health screenings, exams, and restorative procedures. Travels to various sites throughout Oakland County to provide education regarding various public health initiatives involving oral health. Develops educational material in collaboration with Health Educators. Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed by the Michigan Board of Dentistry to practice dental hygiene in the State of Michigan.
  
• Possess a valid United States motor vehicle operator’s or chauffeur’s license.
  
• Previous full-time paid experience as a Dental Hygienist in a public health agency.
  
• Reasonable knowledge of and skill in applying the principles, practices, and techniques of dental hygiene in a public health clinic.
  
• Reasonable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and non-professional Health Division personnel, representatives of other agencies, and the general public.
  
• Reasonable ability to maintain records of dental and oral hygiene services to individual patients.
  
• Reasonable ability to communicate effectively the educational aspects of oral hygiene to interested groups and individuals.
  
• Reasonable ability to exercise mature judgment and initiative in analyzing problems and recommending solutions.
  
• Familiar with current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and Internet software.
  

Special Requirements

• Maintain license to practice dental hygiene in the State of Michigan.
  
• Maintain a valid United States driver’s or chauffeur’s license.
  
• Submit to immunizations as requested by the Department of Health & Human Services and periodic tuberculin skin tests or chest X-rays at County expense.
  
• If assignment is for Children’s Village, provide documentation from the Michigan Department of Human Services that you have not been named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect.
  
• If assignment is for kindergarten oral health assessment, provide documentation from MDHHS that the candidate is not named in a central registry case as a perpetrator of child abuse or child neglect.
  
• Clearances are updated prior to each new school year.
  

Essential Job Functions

• Removes accretions, calculus deposits and stains from the surface of teeth using appropriate dental equipment or manual method to combat oral disease and maintain optimum oral health.
  
• Applies topical fluoride to teeth following established methods to aid in reducing tooth decay.
  
• Takes digital radiographs of patient’s mouths and notes suspicious areas of possible oral disease for the attention of the Dentist.
  
• Demonstrates the correct techniques involved in good oral health care and provides information and oral health care supplies to patients to ensure proper oral health maintenance.
  
• Performs preliminary examinations that involves charting visual/clinical findings, classifying occlusion, and cancer screening for use in medical records and in setting guidelines for oral health care plans.
  
• Examines the soft tissue in and around the oral cavity for abnormalities and charts the condition of the tissue supporting the gums and bones.
  
• Records and charts a patient’s oral health condition and procedures used in each examination in order to maintain medical records on each patient.
  
• Scrubs all instruments and equipment used in treatment with a disinfectant solution, ultrasonic cleaner and places them in an autoclave for sterilizing.
  
• Maintains an inventory of dental supplies and requests supplies, when needed.
  
• Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.
  

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

• Affords assistance to the Dentist during oral screenings, examinations, and restorative treatments. This entails setting up instruments for the procedure, rinsing & suctioning, cleaning the instruments and operatory after treatment.
  
• Establishes patient schedule for hygiene and dentist appointments and disseminates to appropriate staff in Children’s Village.
  
• Assist in the Dental Program office such as answering the phone, mailing applications, and taking referrals.
  
• Acts as a Subject Matter Expert for other units for guidance on patients’ oral health, educational materials creation, and accuracy, and/or collaboration regarding legislative issues that are happening at the State or Federal level.
  

Essential Mental & Physical Requirements

• Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
  
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and move screening supplies with or without assistance.
  

Working Conditions

• Some assignments may include travel to other locations to assist and educate those in the community about Public Health initiatives involving Oral Health (doctor’s offices, schools, community meetings, conferences, etc.).
  

Additional Minimum Qualifications

• Union* if applicable.
  

EEO Statement

We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Inclusion Statement

Oakland County is committed to welcoming applicants from all backgrounds, including those with prior convictions, as we believe in providing equal opportunities for all. We value the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings to our team and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive workplace.