Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.
Job Description
Job Type: Staff
Job Description
Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine seeks a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) in Joplin, Missouri. The RDH will be responsible for general clinic administrative work, maintenance and support of the clinical faculty, dental students and performance of clinical dental hygiene procedures.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Practices clinical dental hygiene according to the Missouri Dental Practice Act
Administers Local Anesthesia and Takes of Radiographs
Maintains patient records using an electronic health record, including documenting examination findings, procedures, and clinical recommendations
Sterilizes dental instruments and equipment, restock treatment areas, and maintain materials and supplies as needed
- Participates in maintenance of patient safety and quality assurance measures
- Serves as educator and mentor to students
- Delivers all levels of clinical instruction and supervision for pre-doctoral students
- Teaches, oversees, and assesses students in the clinical and community settings
- Coordinates and maintains patient flow through the oral health screening process
- Educates patients, parents, guardians and school personnel on various oral health topics
- Conducts and supervises oral health screenings and delivers screening results
- Participates in the advancement of the Score 1 for Health Program and other oral health community outreach programs
- Ensures adherence to all regulatory governance, universal precautions, and/or standard protocols
- Makes certain safety protocols are followed and with federal regulations
Qualifications
Active Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) licensure in the state of Missouri that includes permits for infiltration and block anesthesia as a registered dental hygienist by the Missouri Dental Board
- Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene required
- Clinical dental hygiene experience for 3-5 years, and a nitrous oxide permit
- Education in addition to the dental hygiene degree to include public health, community engagement, or other relevant training preferred
- One-year experience as an RDH in a pediatric and/or community health clinical environment
- Must be knowledgeable and skillful in age-appropriate health promotion, guidance, and primary care skills
- Demonstrated ability to decipher and interpret information and able to respond/react effectively and appropriately
- Able to adapt to different health literacy levels when interacting with a variety of individuals
Demonstrated ability to interact professionally and appropriately with patients, parents, and school/program administrators
Must be able to function as a team leader to effectively oversee screenings [instructions, training, charting, etc.]
Must have excellent customer relations skills for decision making and problem solving
Equal Opportunity Employer
KCU is committed to promoting an equal employment opportunity workplace. Equal opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, genetic information (GINA), physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, ancestry, military and/or veteran status, and/or any other status protected by applicable Federal, state or local law.
Annual Security Report
KCU is committed to providing a safe campus for students, faculty, and staff. Our annual campus security report lists campus crimes and statistics for the campus and public areas around campus for the last three years, in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
Thank you for your interest in a career at KCU!
Key Responsibilities
The Registered Dental Hygienist will perform clinical dental hygiene procedures, maintain patient records, and ensure adherence to safety and regulatory protocols. Additionally, the role involves educating and mentoring pre-doctoral students while coordinating oral health screenings in clinical and community settings.
Requirements
Candidates must hold an active Registered Dental Hygienist licensure in Missouri with permits for infiltration and block anesthesia, along with a bachelor's degree in dental hygiene. A minimum of 3-5 years of clinical experience, including experience in pediatric or community health environments, is required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Dental Hygiene Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 50 active Dental Hygienist listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 48% have no call, 56% require no weekends.
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | not listed | Dental Hygienist median $109k (middle half $97k–$112k)10 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost of living | Missouri index 90.8 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Dental Hygienist listings in Missouri | 140 active | 5,776 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 4% remote · 48% no call · 56% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Missouri healthcare professional listings: 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 4% offer loan repayment140 active listings, Oct 2026 |
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