Description

This position is responsible for providing preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special healthcare needs in a pediatric dental practice. The Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) promotes oral health through assessment, professional cleaning, radiographs as prescribed, preventive treatments, and age-appropriate education for patients and parents/caregivers. The RDH supports a positive, child-friendly experience through behavior guidance techniques and works closely with the pediatric dentist and clinical team to deliver safe, high-quality care. Reports directly to the Pediatric Dentist and/or Clinical Supervisor.

Essential Functions:

1. Provide pediatric prophylaxis and periodontal maintenance as appropriate, including cleaning and examination of teeth and gingiva using dental instrumentation and age-appropriate techniques.

2. Obtain and process digital radiographs as prescribed, using child-sized sensors/films, proper positioning, and radiation safety measures.

3. Gather a comprehensive medical and dental history from parents/caregivers; perform age-appropriate assessments (including caries risk assessment) and identify contraindications or special needs prior to treatment.

4. Clean and care for dental appliances and prosthetics as applicable (e.g., retainers, space maintainers), and provide home-care instructions to patients and caregivers.

5. Provide preventive services and education, including fluoride varnish, sealants, and other preventive measures per standing orders and state of DE scope which requires a Dentist presence on-site while providing care; counsel patients and caregivers on oral hygiene, diet/nutrition, and caries prevention (including anticipatory guidance by age).

6. Perform visual and tactile assessments of the oral cavity for signs of disease, trauma, or developmental concerns; communicate findings to the pediatric dentist and document accordingly.

7. Sterilize, disinfect, and maintain clinical instruments and equipment; perform operatory set-up/turnover following OSHA, CDC, and practice infection-control protocols.

8. Document all clinical information in the patient's electronic dental record, including medical history updates, assessments, radiographs, services rendered, patient/parent education, and follow-up recommendations.

9. Utilize age-appropriate communication and behavior guidance techniques to help children feel safe and cooperative; participate in quality/performance improvement and safety activities (including emergency preparedness) as required.

Requirements:

Associates degree required

DE Dental Hygienist License, DE Radiation Certification

6 months or more job-related experience required.

About Us

Nemours Children's Health is an internationally recognized pediatric health system serving more than 1.7 million patient encounters each year. We deliver care across six states through two freestanding children's hospitals - Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware and Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida - along with a network of more than 80 primary, urgent, and specialty care practices and more than 40 hospital partnerships.

Backed by the Nemours Foundation and Alfred I. duPont Trust, our $1.7B nonprofit system is dedicated to improving children's health through clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention. Our Whole Child Health approach focuses equally on prevention and treatment, partnering with communities to help every child thrive.

Inclusion and belonging guide our strategy and growth. We are committed to culturally relevant care, reducing health disparities, and fostering an environment where every associate, patient, and family feels supported and valued.

Learn more at Nemours.org.