Wood River Health is growing in 2024! With expansion at our Hope Valley location and providing dental services on Block Island, we have an exciting opportunity for a full time or part time Dentist to join our Dental Provider team!

Not only do we offer a great work environment, our benefits are fantastic, and our site qualifies for eligibility for the NHSC loan repayment program! Packages include a generous paid time off program, PLUS personal days, PLUS paid holidays. We offer health insurance, flexible spending account, life insurance, 403(b) with employer match, work/life balance, tuition assistance, and much more!

The primary duty of the Dental Hygienist is to meet the oral health needs of patients by providing high-quality dental hygiene treatment (within the scope of service consistent with accepted standards of care) and patient education. Working together with and under the supervision of the Dentist, the Dental Hygienist will promote the patient’s oral health by completing dental prophylaxis, performing oral cancer screenings, taking radiographs, and charting conditions of decay and disease. Essential Duties include:

• Reviewing and recording patient’s medical history.
• Taking and recording vital signs, including blood pressure and pulse.
• Positioning and exposing digital radiography sensors.
• Detecting present disease and disease risk by completing oral cancer screening; feeling and visually examining gingiva; using probes to locate periodontal disease and to assess levels of recession.
• Removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth.
• Cleaning stain and polishing tooth surfaces.
• Applying preventive materials to the teeth (i.e. sealants and fluorides).
• Assisting patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.
• Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health (e.g. brushing, flossing, nutritional counseling, fluoride supplementation).
• Suggesting and selecting appropriate length between dental recall appointments based on each individual patient’s periodontal health.
• Maintaining instrumentation for dental hygiene treatment by sharpening and selecting instruments.
• Assisting Dentist manage dental emergencies by documenting history of chief complaint, recording and reporting pertinent observations, and taking appropriate radiographs.
• Assisting Dentist manage medical emergencies by utilizing appropriate emergency measures for sudden adverse reactions during treatment of patients, as well as maintaining CPR certification. Emergency drugs, oxygen supply, and directory of emergency numbers.
• Developing and maintaining the standards of infection control, including disinfecting operatory surfaces and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment.
• Completing maintenance duties, such as cleaning autoclaves, changing solutions, performing spore tests, etc.
• Monitoring supply levels in each operatory and ordering when appropriate.
• Scanning and abstracting documents into electronic health and dental records.
• Becoming proficient with the navigation of NextGen Electronic Practice Manager, Electronic Health Record, and Electronic Dental Record.
• Processing the release of patient information requests according to HIPAA guidelines.
• Performing various clerical support functions required for the daily operations of the Dental Department.
• Participate in professional development by attending workshops, in-services, assigned committees, department and staff meetings. 
• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops.
• Maintain strict confidentiality in all matters. 
• Adhere to organizational policies and procedures. 
• Enliven and support the mission, vision and values of Wood River Health. 
• Performing other duties as assigned within scope of practice.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS 

• Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) from an accredited program required.
• Current RI Dental Hygiene License required.
• CPR Certification required.
• 1-2 years’ hygiene experience preferred.
• Electronic Dental Records experience preferred.
• Bilingual is a plus