Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) – Brooklyn Periodontics

Practice Overview

We are a specialized periodontal practice dedicated to providing advanced periodontal care, including non-surgical and surgical treatments, to improve and maintain patients' oral health.

Position Summary

The RDH will deliver exceptional periodontal hygiene services, support treatment planning, lead daily coordination efforts, and collaborate with the clinical and administrative teams to optimize patient outcomes, meet production goals, and maintain efficient operations—including hygiene supply management, educational initiatives, personal professional compliance, and advanced adjunctive therapies. On typical days, approximately 1/3 of the time will be dedicated to assisting on the doctor's side, which includes diagnostic procedures, local anesthesia administration (as permitted and certified), and performing local debridement to support perio treatment and patient comfort. The remaining time focuses on hygiene-specific responsibilities to drive preventive and maintenance care, with additional contributions to hygiene study club preparation, ensuring CE requirements remain in good standing, and utilizing advanced tools like the Gemini laser and Tom Larkin protocol for biofilm analysis.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive periodontal assessments, including probing, charting, and classifying periodontal conditions (staging/grading).
• Take diagnostic x-rays (intraoral, bitewing, FMX, etc.) when needed, following ALARA principles and practice protocols.
• Utilize Open Dental software to create, review, and update detailed treatment plans for periodontal patients.
• Use DentiAI to record all patient communication, notetaking and charting.
• Perform intraoral 3Shape scanning for digital impressions, case planning, and documentation as required.
• Lead or actively participate in morning huddles, reviewing the daily schedule, discussing patient needs, production goals, unscheduled treatment, and team coordination.
• Conduct care calls to SRP patients to monitor post-treatment comfort, answer questions, reinforce homecare instructions, and identify any concerns for follow-up.
• Collaborate with the administrative team to develop and refine recall systems (e.g., for perio-maintenance, re-evaluations, and unscheduled treatment) to ensure consistent patient retention and achievement of production goals.
• Assist with hygiene supply ordering: Monitor inventory levels in the hygiene operatories, anticipate needs for periodontal and preventive supplies (e.g., instruments, ultrasonic tips, prophy materials, medicaments), check stock regularly, and submit or place orders as necessary to maintain adequate supply without excess or shortages.
• Help with hygiene study club preparation: Assist in planning and organizing hygiene-focused continuing education events (e.g., AAP-style study clubs or local sessions), including gathering educational materials, preparing case presentations or demos, coordinating logistics with the team, inviting participants (e.g., referring hygienists), and supporting the periodontist to deliver high-value content on periodontal topics.
• Ensure continuing education (CE) requirements are in good standing: Track and complete required CE hours per state dental board rules (including mandatory topics such as infection control, CPR, ethics, etc.), maintain accurate records/certificates, utilize tracking tools (e.g., ADHA CE Smart Tracker), and prepare documentation for license renewal or audits to maintain active licensure without interruption.
• On typical days, dedicate approximately 1/3 of scheduled time to supporting the doctor's clinical side, including assisting with diagnostic evaluations, administering local anesthesia (if certified and per state regulations), and performing local debridement (targeted removal of plaque, calculus, and debris to facilitate diagnosis, reduce inflammation, or prepare for further treatment).
• Maintain accurate electronic records, ensure compliance with infection control, HIPAA, and state regulations.
• Assist with other clinical duties as needed, including sterilization, room setup/turnover, and supply management in hygiene areas.
• Participate in team meetings, practice improvement initiatives, and continuing education to stay current in periodontal care.

Hygiene-Specific Responsibilities (Core Focus for Independent Hygiene Production)

• Conduct non-surgical periodontal therapy, including scaling and root planing (SRP), soft tissue management, adjunctive therapies (e.g., local antimicrobials, Gemini laser protocols for sulcular debridement, decontamination, and bacterial reduction in periodontal pockets), and periodontal maintenance/prophy procedures as directed by the periodontist.
• Provide thorough patient education on periodontal disease processes, effective oral hygiene techniques (brushing, flossing, interdental aids), nutrition's role in oral health, and customized home care strategies to support long-term periodontal stability.
• Perform oral cancer screenings, head/neck exams, and evaluate gingival/oral tissue health, documenting findings and communicating concerns to the periodontist and patient.
• Apply preventive agents (e.g., fluorides, desensitizers) and other adjuncts as appropriate for perio risk management.
• Reinforce patient motivation and compliance through motivational interviewing and goal-setting during hygiene visits, including using Tom Larkin protocol techniques for plaque sample analysis via phase-contrast microscopy to visualize biofilm and guide microbiome optimization.
• Serve as a liaison for periodontal patients, supporting communication between the practice, referring general dentists/hygienists, and patients to ensure coordinated care and optimal outcomes—including contributing to hygiene study club efforts to build stronger professional relationships.

Pay: From $60.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Work Location: In person