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Tufts University
Danvers, Massachusetts

Dental Hygienist - Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics

Dental HygienistNo weekendsPart-Time

Listed compensation

$49.3-$68.1/hr

The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Thursday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

This is a part-time position working 21 hours per week, Tuesday-Thursday 8AM - 4PM. This position is located in Danvers, MA.

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) offers one of the most forward-looking educational environments in dental medicine in the country.

Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics (formerly Tufts Dental Facilities for Persons with Special Needs) is a network of seven outpatient clinics that provides dental care to approximately 7,000 developmentally disabled patients in the state of Massachusetts under the umbrella of TUSDM and in partnership with the Massachusetts Departments of Public Health (DPH) and Developmental Services (DDS). This position is based at our clinic in Danvers.

In addition to outpatient services, patient care is also delivered in operating room settings at three affiliated hospitals within the state. TSCDC serves as a vital teaching venue for General Practice Residents through the Tufts GPR program and for fourth-year dental students, offering hands-on experience in treating patients with special needs.

What You'll Do

The Dental Hygienist plays a vital role in delivering high quality, patient centered oral health care.

This position is responsible for performing comprehensive preventive and therapeutic hygiene services, including clinical assessments, periodontal treatments, radiographs, fluoride applications, and patient education, while ensuring all medical histories and clinical documentation are accurately maintained.

Collaborating with the dental team, the Dental Hygienist supports coordinated care, treatment planning, and scheduling to promote optimal oral health outcomes.

Through effective communication, clinical expertise, and a commitment to disease prevention, this role contributes to a positive patient experience and the overall effectiveness of dental practice.

Review and update medical histories and provide comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care, including assessments, periodontal treatments, fluoride applications, radiographs, and patient/caregiver education.

Collaborate with the dental team to support treatment planning and maintain precise detailed clinical documentation, ensuring high quality patient care.

Support clinical operations by managing hygiene and clinical supplies, maintaining equipment and infection control protocols, ensuring OSHA and HIPAA compliance, and providing backup assistance with appointment confirmations and scheduling.

Promote smooth clinic operations and a positive patient experience by collaborating with staff and trainees, maintaining a professional and welcoming environment, and demonstrating patient centered values that support the clinic’s mission.

All other duties as required.

Travel to other clinics is required.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements

Knowledge and Experience Typically Acquired By

  • Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene.
  • 1-3 years Clinical dental hygiene experience.
  • Intermediate proficiency in dental practice management software and Microsoft Office applications.
  • Massachusetts Dental Hygiene License.
  • Travel to other Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics is required.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree.
  • Experience in treating patients with developmental, behavioral, or medical complexities.

Pay Range

Minimum $49.30, Midpoint $58.70, Maximum $68.10

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Key Responsibilities

The Dental Hygienist performs comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care, including clinical assessments, periodontal treatments, and patient education. They also collaborate with the dental team to support treatment planning, maintain clinical documentation, and ensure compliance with infection control protocols.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an Associate's Degree in Dental Hygiene and a Massachusetts Dental Hygiene License. Additionally, 1-3 years of clinical dental hygiene experience and proficiency in dental practice management software are required.

Qualifications

Education
Associate degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical assessmentPeriodontal treatmentFluoride applicationOSHA compliance

Dental Hygiene Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$122k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $115k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 43 active Dental Hygienist listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 53% have no call, 49% require no weekends.

What does the Dental Hygienist market look like in Massachusetts?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.0 / 10 · above average in dental hygienistranked against 2,151 Dental Hygienist listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$103k–$142kDental Hygienist median $116k (middle half $104k–$120k)26 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$115k in purchasing powerMassachusetts index 105.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Dental Hygienist listings in Massachusetts159 active5,805 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 5% remote · 53% no call · 49% no weekends43 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMassachusetts healthcare professional listings: 23% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 7% offer loan repayment159 active listings, Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (2,151 Dental Hygienist listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Dental Hygienist - Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics at Tufts University a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Dental Hygienist — ranked against 2,151 active Dental Hygienist listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Dental Hygienist Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

29 jobs · 27 employers
14
<$120k
7
$120k-145k
4
$145k-170k
4
$183k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

36 jobs · 27 employers
401k / retirement match
86%
CME allowance
56%
Sign-on bonus
50%
Loan repayment
6%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Licensed Dental Hygienist - Roseville

Park Dental · Roseville, Minnesota

$60-$88/hr
#2

Part-Time Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)

Platinum Dental Services · Colorado Springs, Colorado

$68-$72/hr
#3

Dental Hygienist - Tufts Special Care Dental Clinics

$49.3-$68.1/hr
#4

Dental Hygienist

$65 an hour
+ 41 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.9this job 6.0
Better work-life than 70% of Dental Hygienist listings

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

  • No weekends

Living in Danvers

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$724k
Typical market rent
$2,825/mo
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
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.

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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