Community Health Dental Hygienist

Indian Health Service; Thoreau (NM); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Indian Health Service is seeking a Community Health Dental Hygienist to provide comprehensive preventive and clinical dental services across communities. You will perform screenings, chart periodontal status, and deliver education on oral hygiene with culturally appropriate materials.

The role includes radiographic assessment, program planning, and contributing to population health through preventive initiatives in clinics and schools.

Qualifications

• Provide advanced prophylactic, periodontal, and preventive care for patients of all ages.
• Perform intraoral and extraoral exams, chart periodontal status, and identify abnormalities.
• Educate patients and families on oral hygiene using visual aids and culturally appropriate materials.

Responsibilities

• Capture and interpret digital dental radiographs within scope for dentist review.
• Plan, deliver, evaluate, and document preventive oral health programs in clinics, schools, and communities.
• Serve as advisor for dental health promotion and disease prevention across the service unit.

Skills

Dental prophylaxis

Periodontal care

Digital radiographs

Oral cancer screening

Patient education

Job description

Summary

Join the Indian Health Service as a Community Health Dental Hygienists and support quality healthcare services for American Indian communities. Guided by our mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will help deliver safe and effective dental services while creating healthy smiles, restoring confidence, and promoting overall wellness in the communities we serve.

Summary

Join the Indian Health Service as a Community Health Dental Hygienists and support quality healthcare services for American Indian communities. Guided by our mission to improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native people, you will help deliver safe and effective dental services while creating healthy smiles, restoring confidence, and promoting overall wellness in the communities we serve.

A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Duties

Help

• Provide advanced prophylactic, periodontal, and preventive oral care for patients of all ages.
• Conducts preliminary dental screenings and reviews patient medical/dental histories.
• Performs intraoral and extraoral examinations, including periodontal charting, oral cancer screening, and evaluation of soft/hard tissues for evidence of disease or pathology.
• Captures and interprets digital dental radiographs within scope; identifies periodontal status, caries, calculus, bone levels, and abnormalities for dentist review.
• Instructs patients, families, staff, and community partners in oral hygiene techniques using demonstrations, visual aids, and culturally appropriate materials.
• Plan, deliver, evaluate, and document preventive oral health programs that enhance population health. The program offers preventive, diagnostic, restorative, periodontal outreach services in clinics, schools, and community settings.
• Serves as principal advisor for dental health promotion and disease prevention efforts across the service unit.

Requirements: (Continued)

IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance. This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period.

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Physical Demands: Long periods of sitting, standing, bending, and lifting portable equipment.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment. A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individual's identity, employment history, education, and other