Registered Dental Hygienist: Clinical Instructor

The Department of Periodontology at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry invites applications for a full-time Registered Dental Hygienist position. The successful candidate will join a dynamic predoctoral dental education program committed to excellence in teaching, patient care, service, and community engagement. The Faculty/Clinical Instructor will provide didactic, preclinical laboratory, and clinical instruction to predoctoral students and post doctorate residents while supervising the delivery of comprehensive periodontal care to a culturally and medically diverse patient population. The individual will promote evidence-based periodontal therapy, clinical excellence, professionalism, patient safety, and interprofessional collaboration consistent with the mission of Meharry Medical College.

Daily Operations

Provide direct clinical supervision and instruction to predoctoral dental students during patient care experiences in the Department of Periodontology.

Evaluate student performance and competency in accordance with departmental clinical standards.

Ensure quality patient care while maintaining compliance with institutional policies and accreditation standards.

Foster critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills through evidence-based instruction.

Supervise students in patient assessment, diagnosis support, treatment planning, implementation of periodontal therapy, and post-treatment evaluation.

Provide timely formative and summative student evaluations.

Deliver lectures, seminars, demonstrations, and laboratory instruction within the predoctoral curriculum.

Assist with development, implementation, and continuous improvement of educational materials and instructional methods.

Participate in student assessments, practical examinations, written examinations, and competency evaluations.

Utilize contemporary educational technologies and active learning strategies.

Required Skills

• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and instructional communication skills.
• Ability to teach effectively in both clinical and laboratory settings.
• Ability to evaluate student performance objectively and provide constructive feedback.
• Knowledge of current evidence-based periodontal therapy.
• Proficiency in contemporary non-surgical periodontal treatment techniques.
• Knowledge of current trends, technologies, and best practices in dental hygiene education.
• Knowledge of patient management strategies for culturally diverse and medically complex populations.

Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, residents, students, staff, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.

Strong commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of adult learning principles and student-centered teaching methodologies.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Experience with education technology and electronic health record systems
• Record of research, publication or scholarly contribution
• Experience with interprofessional education and collaborative practice

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

• Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist in the State of Tennessee.
• Clinical experience (2 years minimum) in dental hygiene practice.
• Experience providing comprehensive preventive and non-surgical periodontal therapy.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in Dental Hygiene, Education, Public Health, Health Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Previous teaching experience in an academic dental institution.
• Experience supervising dental or dental hygiene students.
• Experience with competency-based dental education.
• Experience using electronic dental records and digital radiographic systems.
• Experience participating in curriculum development.
• Demonstrated scholarly activity, presentations, publications, or professional service.
• Experience working with diverse, underserved, or medically complex patient populations
• Required Licensure, Certification or Registration

Current Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) license in the State of Tennessee or eligibility for Tennessee licensure.

• Certification to administer local anesthesia in accordance with the Tennessee Dental Practice Act.
• Certification to monitor nitrous oxide analgesia as authorized by the Tennessee Dental Practice Act.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR certification from an approved provider.
• Preferred Licensure, Certification or Registration
• Certification in laser-assisted periodontal therapy.
• Certification in advanced periodontal instrumentation.
• Membership in the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA).
• Active participation in professional dental hygiene organizations.
• Additional certifications supporting advanced clinical education.