Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)

Kansas City University; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine in Joplin, MO seeks a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) to support clinicians, students, and faculty in our dental hygiene clinic.

The RDH will perform hygiene procedures, administer local anesthesia, manage electronic records, and participate in community outreach and education efforts. This role emphasizes safety, quality, and student mentorship within a hospital-affiliated dental program.

Qualifications

• Active Missouri RDH license with infiltration and block anesthesia permits
• Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene is required
• Clinical hygiene experience 3–5 years and nitrous oxide permit
• Education beyond degree in public health/community engagement preferred
• One-year pediatric/community health RDH experience preferred
• Ability to educate and engage diverse patients and guardians
• Strong team leadership and patient relations skills

Responsibilities

• Perform clinical dental hygiene procedures in accordance with Missouri Dental Practice Act
• Administer local anesthesia and radiographs
• Maintain patient records in an electronic health record system
• Sterilize instruments and restock treatment areas
• Monitor patient safety and quality assurance measures
• Educate students and supervise clinical practice
• Coordinate patient flow during screenings in clinics and community settings
• Educate patients, parents, and school staff on oral health topics

Skills

Clinical dental hygiene

Patient education

Team collaboration

Public health awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene

Public health / community engagement training

Tools

Electronic health records (EHR)

Nitrous oxide permit

Job description

Job Type: Staff. Job Description: Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine seeks a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in Joplin, Missouri. The RDH will be responsible for general clinic administrative work, maintenance and support of the clinical faculty, dental students and performance of clinical dental hygiene procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Practices clinical dental hygiene according to the Missouri Dental Practice Act
• Administers local anesthesia and takes of radiographs
• Maintains patient records using an electronic health record, including documenting examination findings, procedures, and clinical recommendations
• Sterilizes dental instruments and equipment, restock treatment areas, and maintain materials and supplies as needed
• Participates in maintenance of patient safety and quality assurance measures
• Serves as educator and mentor to students
• Delivers all levels of clinical instruction and supervision for pre-doctoral students
• Teaches, oversees, and assesses students in the clinical and community settings
• Coordinates and maintains patient flow through the oral health screening process
• Educates patients, parents, guardians and school personnel on various oral health topics
• Conducts and supervises oral health screenings and delivers screening results
• Participates in the advancement of the Score 1 for Health Program and other oral health community outreach programs
• Ensures adherence to all regulatory governance, universal precautions, and/or standard protocols
• Makes certain safety protocols are followed and with federal regulations

Qualifications:

• Active Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) licensure in the state of Missouri that includes permits for infiltration and block anesthesia as a registered dental hygienist by the Missouri Dental Board
• Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene required
• Clinical dental hygiene experience for 3-5 years, and a nitrous oxide permit
• Education in addition to the dental hygiene degree to include public health, community engagement, or other relevant training preferred
• One-year experience as an RDH in a pediatric and/or community health clinical environment
• Must be knowledgeable and skillful in age-appropriate health promotion, guidance, and primary care skills
• Demonstrated ability to decipher and interpret information and able to respond/react effectively and appropriately
• Able to adapt to different health literacy levels when interacting with a variety of individuals
• Demonstrated ability to interact professionally and appropriately with patients, parents, and school/program administrators
• Must be able to function as a team leader to effectively oversee screenings [instructions, training, charting, etc.]
• Must have excellent customer relations skills for decision making and problem solving

Equal Opportunity Employer KCU is committed to promoting an equal employment opportunity workplace. Equal opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information (GINA), physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, ancestry, military and/or veteran status, and/or any other status protected by applicable Federal, state or local law.

Annual Security Report KCU is committed to providing a safe campus for students, faculty, and staff. Our annual campus security report lists campus crimes and statistics for the campus and public areas around campus for the last three years, in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Thank you for your interest in a career at KCU! Kansas City University, founded in 1916, is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health sciences university, and the fifth-oldest osteopathic medical school in the nation. KCU's Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences and Dental Medicine offer graduate degree programs in osteopathic medicine, clinical psychology, biomedical sciences and dental medicine, as well as multiple dual-degree opportunities. To learn more about KCU, our colleges and academic programs, visit kansascity.edu.