Smile Programs logo
Smile Programs
Chicago, Illinois

Registered Dental Hygienist

Dental Hygienist 8.7 Work-LifeNo weekendsNo nightsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumedWeekdays only

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 2h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Dentistry with a work-life balance
  • Make a difference while doing what you love
  • If you’re looking for a career opportunity at a competitive salary while helping kids in need, let’s talk.

Smile Illinois, a school-based mobile dental practice, is seeking a Registered Dental Hygienist in Chicago, IL and surrounding areas to help provide dental care to underserved children at their school.

Our innovative in school dental program offers something different than a traditional dental practice. With a workday that ends with the school day and no nights or weekends, our program is perfect for people looking for a diverse and different working environment, working parents and anyone who wants to make a difference in the dental field.

  • Sound interesting? Call or text Michael at 855-957-4375 or email mbannigan@mobiledentists.com
  • (If texting/emailing, please include your name, contact information and the location of this position.)

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Qualifications

  • Active RDH License
  • Working experience as a Dental Hygienist
  • CPR or BLS certification
  • Works well with children
  • Ability to work well on a small team and in a fast-paced environment
  • Organized, detail-oriented and able to multi-task
  • Valid driver's license, reliable transportation and willing to travel within the county
  • Ability to lift and carry equipment for set-up and take-down (up to 50 lbs)
  • Able to walk up flights of stairs on certain occasions, some schools may not have an elevator

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Responsibilities

  • Assist with oral health management of all patients-being a team player at all times
  • Verify the identity of patient using name and date of birth prior to administering treatment, place your initials on the medical chart indicating that verification was made.
  • Obtain oral health assessment of each patient [new-baseline; follow-up patient]
  • Review medical history and other pertinent oral health information
  • Provide oral hygiene services including dental prophylaxis scaling, sealant application and fluoride application consistent with accepted best practices and standards.
  • Provide dental assistance as directed by the dentist

Provide oral health education and individual counseling to each patient according to known oral health care practices (e. g. tooth brushing, flossing)+)

  • Document provided dental services on the patient’s chart.
  • Daily travel to and from school sites

Smile Illinois Offers

Evenings, weekends and summers off!

Working a school day schedule (about 6 – 7 hours); on average between 8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

  • Benefit package (health, dental, vision)
  • Travel Pay
  • Unique work experience and flexible scheduling
  • Full and part time positions
  • Competitive compensation
  • State-of-the-art portable dental equipment

Latest Technology & Digital Radiography

  • Want to learn more? Call or text Michael at 855-957-4375 or email mbannigan@mobiledentists.com
  • (If texting/emailing, please include your name, contact information and the location of this position.)

Who We Are

Smile Programs…the mobile dentists is the nation’s leading in-school dental program founded more than two decades ago by two moms, who happen to also be dentists. The founders saw a tremendous need among underserved school aged children who did not have easy access to dental care and who often suffered from poor oral hygiene, tooth decay, pain and associated health problems.

Knowing that many parents could not take their children to the dentist due to issues including time off from work and transportation challenges, they sought to bring the care to the need.

Using the latest technology in portable equipment, a team of dedicated dental professionals provide preventive and restorative dental care to children right at school. Our flexibility and expertise allow us to transform classrooms, auditoriums, gyms or other suitable areas into fully functional dental offices for the day.

Every year, through its devoted group of dental professionals, Smile Programs…the mobile dentists puts happy, healthy smiles on over 500,000 children from coast to coast.

Join us in our mission to bring smiles and good oral health to where they are needed. Call or text us at 855-957-4375 or email jobs@mobiledentists.com. You’ll be glad you did.

Rewarding Work. Competitive Compensation. Smile Programs.

Smile Programs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.

Key Responsibilities

Provide preventive oral health services to children at school sites, including assessments, prophylaxis, scaling, sealants, fluoride, and oral health education. Verify patient identity, review medical histories, document services, assist the dentist, and travel between school locations.

Requirements

Applicants must hold an active Registered Dental Hygienist license, have dental hygiene work experience, and hold CPR or BLS certification. They should work well with children and a small team, be organized and able to multitask, and have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation, willingness to travel, and the ability to lift up to 50 pounds and climb stairs.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Oral Hygiene EducationPatient CounselingMedical History ReviewPatient Identity VerificationDental Chart DocumentationWorking With ChildrenTeamworkOrganizationMultitasking

Dental Hygiene Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Smile Programs holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 81/100, 22 active listings.

What does the Dental Hygienist market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score8.7 / 10 · top 5% in dental hygienistranked against 2,151 Dental Hygienist listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed paynot listedDental Hygienist median $109k (middle half $99k–$114k)34 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingIllinois index 100.0US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Dental Hygienist listings in Illinois175 active5,716 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 42% no call · 60% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedIllinois healthcare professional listings: 30% state a sign-on bonus (median $6k) · 9% offer loan repayment175 active listings, Nov 2026
New Dental Hygiene listings718 in the last 30 days500 the 30 days before (+44%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Smile Programssilver tier, 81/100Top Employers work-life index22 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (2,151 Dental Hygienist listings), Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Registered Dental Hygienist at Smile Programs a 8.7 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Dental Hygienist — ranked against 2,151 active Dental Hygienist listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements, no night shifts.

Top Dental Hygienist Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

32 jobs · 30 employers
10
<$105k
9
$105k-120k
3
$120k-135k
8
$135k-150k
2
$156k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

34 jobs · 30 employers
401k / retirement match
94%
CME allowance
53%
Sign-on bonus
41%
PSLF eligible
6%
Loan repayment
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Dental Hygienist | $40,000 in Tuition Reimbursement

Platinum Dental Services · Wheat Ridge, Colorado

$70-$75/hr
#2

Dental Hygienist| $40,000 Tuition Reimbursement

Platinum Dental Services · Colorado Springs, Colorado

$65-$75/hr
#3

Dental Hygienist | $40,000 in Tuition Reimbursement

$60-$70/hr
#4

Dental Hygienist

$60-$70/hr
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 8.7
Among the best 10% of Dental Hygienist listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,151 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • No nights
Smile Programs logo

About Smile Programs

Hospitals and Health Care
Farmington Hills, MI
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
Travel Pay
Evenings, Weekends, and Summers Off
Flexible Scheduling
State-of-the-Art Portable Dental Equipment
Digital Radiography

Living in Chicago

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$2,311/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.