Dental Hygienist, Penn Dental Family Practice

The University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established Ivy League institution is seeking a dedicated Dental Hygienist to join its collaborative team at Penn Dental Family Practice. This role offers the chance to enhance your skills while providing exceptional patient care in a supportive environment. You will work closely with dentists and dental assistants, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of dental services. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic setting, eager to learn and contribute to a culture of excellence in dental care. This is a unique opportunity to grow professionally while making a positive impact on patient health and wellness in the vibrant city of Philadelphia.

Benefits

Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits

Tuition Assistance

Generous Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Wellness Programs

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development Opportunities

Discounts on Goods and Services

Long-Term Care Insurance

Adoption Assistance

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in dental hygiene is required.
• CPR certification and state clearance to work with children is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Perform thorough oral cleanings and assessments on patients.
• Educate patients on oral hygiene and treatment plans.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment.

Skills

Patient Care

Oral Prophylaxis

Dental Assessments

Oral Hygiene Education

Infection Control

Education

Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene

Tools

Axium

MiPacs

Job description

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer, Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions, with the most recent award from Forbes naming Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Dental Hygienist, Penn Dental Family Practice

Job Description Summary

Penn Dental Medicine’s Family Practice (PDFP) is interested in hiring the best and the brightest dental hygienists who are looking to broaden their skill sets and gain valuable experience in the art and science of the dental field. Together, the team works collaboratively to provide multi-specialty care utilizing leading techniques in patient care.

As a member of the PDFP family, individuals are provided the opportunity to work alongside a diverse team whose mission is to provide quality dental care that exceeds patient expectations. Ideal candidates must:

1. Be ready to have a voice on a highly collaborative team
2. Stay thirsty and always seek to learn and improve upon patient service and clinical practice
3. SMILE…because WE make people smile!

Penn employees are provided substantial paid time off and sick leave. To learn more about University benefits, visit: Benefits at a Glance.

Job Description

Our ideal candidate will partner and collaborate with a team of talented, engaged dental assistants and dentists in providing exceptional patient experiences. Additionally, individuals selected for this role will have experience and champion their position as a leader of the clinical practice – serving as an educator and role model to dental assistants as well as a partner and bridge for dentists and patient care.

PATIENT CARE

• Ensure that operatories are well supplied with necessary supplies
• Handle sharpening, sterilization, and maintenance of all instruments and equipment
• Escort patients to and from operatories
• Help to acquaint patients with preventive care-oriented practice philosophy
• Help to maintain and manage patient recall system
• Perform thorough oral prophylaxis (cleanings) on scheduled patients, which include proper use of ultrasonic cleaning devices, scaling instruments, polishing, and flossing
• Conduct dental and periodontal assessments, providing oral cancer screening, charting conditions of decay and disease (via axiUm), capturing digital images (via MiPacs), and documenting interventions performed electronically by recording vital signs, clinical notes, and procedures.
• Arrest dental decay by applying topical fluorides and occlusal sealants on indicated patients, recommending cavity-preventing agents as needed
• Educate and motivate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions, presenting and explaining treatment plans to patients, demonstrating effective communication to bridge the gap between a pending treatment plan and a completed treatment plan, providing postoperative instructions, and scheduling subsequent visits.
• Explain treatment alternatives to patients
• Review and revise patient histories and record patient's vital signs
• Chart existing restorations on new patients and notate clinical evidence of disease presence
• Record specific treatment performed on patient chart, as well as other patient information as needed.
• Provide digital x-rays and chairside assistance when available, as needed
• Help to reconfirm and appoint patients

OPERATIONS

• Maintain patient confidence and protect operations by keeping information confidential
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Conserve dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results; monitor inventory; maintain proper usage and operations of equipment.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• To date, clinical hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM; flexibility in scheduling is required for all positions.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing and supporting as assigned.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE & POSITION EXPECTATIONS

• An Associate's Degree or two-year college equivalent and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• CPR certification required.
• Employment clearance through the State of PA to work on/with children: as determined through Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, and FBI Finger Printing Database is required.
• Experience with Axium preferred.
• Ability to accommodate different scheduling requirements based on the operational needs of the Penn Dental Family Practice.

Salary will commensurate with experience.

Penn Dental Family Practice is the multispecialty dental practice of Penn Dental Medicine. With general dentists as well as specialists, patients can receive comprehensive care for all their dental needs within each of the two practice locations. Patients benefit from a team of experts who practice using the leading techniques and technologies in dentistry and who are committed to providing compassionate, personalized care.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Dental Medicine

Pay Range

$28.48 - $41.00 Hourly Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community, or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff, but you can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve the use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay