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.