Work at MERCI Clinic
Our paid staff are the professionals who make the clinic run: they welcome patients, keep us compliant, and create the conditions for great volunteer care. When we have an opening, it is posted here.
Current openings
Dental Hygienist
Part time
- Pay
- Starting at $35.00 an hour
- Hours
- 8 to 16 hours a week, based on need
- Location
- New Bern, NC
- Reports to
- Practice Manager
Provide dental hygiene assessments, cleanings, periodontal care, and patient education alongside our dentists and dental assistants, for patients who otherwise have no access to dental care.
Qualifications
- Valid state licensure as a Dental Hygienist with current certification to practice in a clinical setting
- X-ray certificate and CPR certificate
- Minimum 1 year of experience in a dental clinic setting preferred; familiarity with pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, or periodontics is a plus
- Excellent communication skills to effectively educate patients about oral health strategies
- Proficiency with EMR systems, Microsoft Office, and accurate data entry
- Commitment to the mission of equitable, accessible healthcare for all
Apply by emailFull job description
Key responsibilities
- Perform comprehensive dental hygiene assessments.
- Obtain and document medical and dental histories, vital signs, and relevant health information.
- Assess oral hygiene, periodontal health, plaque/calculus levels, gingival condition, and other oral health concerns.
- Perform periodontal charting and screening as appropriate.
- Provide professional dental cleanings and periodontal maintenance.
- Perform scaling and root planing when indicated and within scope of practice and clinic protocols.
- Apply topical fluoride and other preventive agents as appropriate.
- Apply sealants when indicated and permitted within scope and clinic protocols.
- Take dental radiographs when trained, authorized, and directed according to clinic protocols.
- Identify abnormal oral findings and communicate concerns to the dentist for further evaluation.
- Provide individualized oral hygiene instruction.
- Educate patients about brushing, flossing, interdental cleaning, fluoride, nutrition, and other preventive practices.
- Provide education regarding the relationship between oral health and overall health.
- Reinforce smoking/tobacco cessation and other health-promotion efforts when appropriate.
- Help patients understand their dental treatment recommendations and the importance of follow-up care.
- Meet patients where they are with a nonjudgmental, compassionate approach, recognizing that many patients may have experienced barriers to dental care.
- Other duties as specified by clinic leadership.
Daily tasks
- Collaborate with dentists and dental assistants to ensure seamless workflow during procedures.
- Perform comprehensive patient assessments, including vital signs measurement and medical history review.
- Prepare treatment rooms in advance for each patient.
- Decontaminate all treatment rooms and sterilize all instruments after each patient appointment.
- Change all chemical solutions: soaks, sprays, sterilant, ultrasonic, presoak, and x-ray processing.
- Maintain cleanliness of all patient care areas.
- Clean and flush vacuum traps.
- Restock all treatment rooms and other clinical support areas.
- Manage multi-specialty appointment scheduling, including coordinating with clinical staff and ensuring proper coverage.
Communication and patient experience
- Provide excellent customer service, answer patient inquiries, and address concerns.
- Make referrals as appropriate.
- Promote a welcoming, respectful, and confidential environment for all patients.
- Resolve patient concerns or barriers to care with professionalism and empathy.
- Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.
- Educate patients about the MERCI Clinic program and other programs as appropriate.
Community and partnership engagement
- Represent the clinic at coalitions, events, and health fairs to build awareness and referrals.
- Support outreach and advocacy efforts to advance health equity in the community.
- Collaborate with other team members to effectively coordinate care.
Skills
- Communication (English and Spanish).
- Use of specialized equipment, including autoclave and x-ray units (including Panorex).
- Computer management and dental software programs.
- Airflow experience preferred.
Working conditions
- Based primarily on site in a clinic setting.
- Occasional evening or weekend hours for outreach or events.
- Requires multitasking in a fast-paced, patient-centered environment.
Working here
A small staff with a big job
- A professional team
- A small key professional staff runs the day-to-day operations of the clinic and keeps us in compliance with every healthcare regulatory requirement.
- Optimal conditions for great care
- Our staff make conditions optimal for volunteer doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, phlebotomists, and dentists. We have one paid staff member for every six volunteers.
- Mission you can see
- More than 375 uninsured neighbors get medical and dental care here every year. You meet them in the hallway.
How to apply
Email your résumé and a short note about the role you are interested in to info@merciclinic.org. Our Practice Manager reviews every application and will be in touch.
MERCI Clinic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Not looking for a job, but want to help?
Most of the people who keep MERCI running are volunteers. Clinical and non-clinical roles are open year-round.