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.