Dental Hygienist

Job description

Overview
Compensation
Starting salary: $64,480 to $76,960 annually
Full-time | Chestnut Family Health Center
Starting salary is based on experience, qualifications, internal equity, and local market conditions.
Overview
Help patients build healthier smiles and healthier lives.
Chestnut Health Systems is seeking a Dental Hygienist to join the Chestnut Family Health Center dental team. In this role, you'll provide preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services while educating patients and families about oral health and supporting coordinated, whole-person care.
You'll work with patients across the lifespan in an integrated primary care and behavioral health environment. This is an opportunity to use your clinical skills, build relationships with patients, and make quality dental care more accessible to individuals and families in our community.
Why You'll Love This Role
• Provide meaningful, hands-on preventive dental care to patients across the lifespan.
• Build relationships with patients while helping them improve and maintain their oral health.
• Work as part of an integrated health care team that values collaboration and whole-person care.
• Use the full scope of your dental hygiene skills, including preventive services, patient education, X-rays, sealants, fluoride, and local anesthesia.
• Support patients who may face barriers to accessing dental and health care services.
• Collaborate closely with dentists, dental staff, and other health center professionals.
• Continue growing professionally through required education, training, and licensure development.
• Join a mission-driven organization focused on improving health and strengthening communities.

Responsibilities
• Provide high-quality, patient-centered, culturally sensitive dental hygiene services.
• Review patient charts, identify care gaps, obtain needed records, and prepare for upcoming appointments.
• Gather and document patient health, hospital, dental, and medication histories in the electronic health record.
• Take and document vital signs and seek clinical assistance when results fall outside established ranges.
• Chart dental conditions based on dentist observations and evaluations.
• Perform oral prophylaxis, including supra-gingival and sub-gingival removal of plaque and calculus.
• Take dental X-rays and prepare images for dentist review.
• Apply fluoride varnish and place pit and fissure sealants.
• Create molds of patients' teeth in preparation for restorative procedures.
• Administer local anesthetic as needed within scope of practice and certification.
• Administer and monitor nitrous oxide sedation when appropriately certified.
• Educate patients and parents or caregivers about oral health, dental hygiene, and preventive care.
• Sterilize dental instruments in accordance with CDC and agency policies and procedures.
• Provide chair-side assistance to dentists when requested or needed.
• Communicate with the dental team regarding patient treatment plans and participate in team huddles, meetings, consultations, and program development activities.
• Meet established productivity, quality, documentation, credentialing, and privileging requirements.
• Assist with patient scheduling, check-in/check-out, phone communication, record scanning, and collection/documentation of copayments as needed.
• Maintain required continuing education and training to support licensure and quality care.
• Protect the confidentiality and security of patient and organizational information and promote Chestnut's culture of customer service excellence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Required Education & Licensure
• Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene, including local anesthesia certification.
• Current, unrestricted Registered Dental Hygienist license in the State of Illinois.
• Basic computer skills and experience working with electronic dental records and digital X-rays.

Preferred Experience & Skills
• Clinical dental hygienist experience preferred.
• Experience in general dentistry working with patients across the lifespan preferred.
• Comfort working in an integrated primary care and behavioral health environment.
• Commitment to providing high-quality care to underserved and under-resourced populations.
• Excellent communication skills and a friendly, professional approach to patient care.
• Ability to follow established program, documentation, quality, and safety protocols.

Benefits
Chestnut offers benefits and resources that support your career and well-being, with eligibility based on employment status. Benefits may include:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan with company match
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the organization

check out our benefits here!
About Chestnut
Since 1973, Chestnut Health Systems has been improving lives through integrated behavioral health, primary care, substance use treatment, prevention, research, and community partnerships.
Today, more than 800 compassionate employees serve individuals and families throughout Illinois and Missouri. Our interdisciplinary teams deliver trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care that integrates behavioral health, primary care, dental, and community-based services to improve health outcomes and strengthen communities.
At Chestnut, you'll find more than a job. You'll become part of a team where your skills matter, your contribution is valued, and the care you provide can make someone's day a little better.
Additional Information
Current, unrestricted Illinois Registered Dental Hygienist licensure is required for consideration.
To be considered, applicants must attach a resume, complete the application, and answer all screening questions.
Chestnut welcomes applications from qualified individuals with recovery experience.
EOE - Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled