DENTAL HYGIENIST - 64082345

Requisition No: 881798 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: DENTAL HYGIENIST - 64082345

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 64082345 

Salary:  $55,000 to $66,000 

Posting Closing Date: 09/11/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Job posting category (Open Competitive)

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The incumbent, an employee of the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, County, and community efforts.  The incumbent Is expected to promote Innovation by searching for creative solutions and managing resources wisely. They are expected to collaborate through teamwork to achieve common goals and solve problems. The incumbent is expected to be accountable and perform with integrity and respect. They are expected to be responsive by serving our customers and engaging our partners.  Finally, the incumbent is expected perform with excellence by promoting quality outcomes through learning and continuous performance. The Public Health Registered Dental Hygienist is responsible for coordinating and implementing the school-based dental sealant program, while also providing chairside, clinical hygiene services, in the fixed dental clinic. This role supports community oral health initiatives, ensures delivery of evidence-based preventive dental services, and upholds regulatory and professional practice standards in all settings. This position must be able to work independently, appropriately managing time and productivity, to implement skills and initiative needed to seek and develop opportunities related to public health dental hygiene, as it relates to the SBSP, while concurrently providing chairside care, in the fixed clinic.

As the SBSP Coordinator, the general duty of this position is to provide services and education to students and families in Title I schools, Title I After Care Programs, public Charter Schools, and other health department, or community settings. The State SBSP Goal is to promote dental health, prevent dental caries, and link children and their families to a dental provider. While working in this role, the incumbent will provide preventive dental services, including prophylactic hygiene services and education, for pre-school and school age children, including oral screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatments, & the application of sealants, when necessary. As part of the SBSP, the incumbent will provide oral hygiene and dietary education to children and their parents/guardians. Incumbent will effectively interact with pre-school and school-age children, addressing questions,  decreasing fears surrounding dental services, and work with students on behavioral issues related to non-compliance with oral hygiene. Incumbent will plan, organize, and manage all activities related to the SBSP. Incumbent will conduct outreach in schools, families and community partners, to facilitate program participation. Incumbent will perform oral health screenings, risk assessments, fluoride application, and placement of dental sealants, in school settings, while following state practice guidelines. Incumbent ensures compliance with all clinical, documentation, consent, and reporting requirements. The incumbent will train and oversee support staff assigned to school-based events, ensuring adherence to infection control, data entry standards, and equipment handling. Incumbent will collaborate with school staff to schedule events, and to ensure scheduling conflicts do not occur between the fixed-clinic and the SBSP. Incumbent will be responsible for all data entry and surveillance required for the FLOSS Program, making sure required data is entered timely, is accurate, and is in accordance with the guidelines of the FDOH. The incumbent will represent FDOH-Putnam at school functions, outreach events and interact with community partners to promote positive dental outcomes for school-aged children. The incumbent will work effectively with Facilities staff at DOH – Putnam, to ensure the appropriate logistical information has been shared surrounding outreach events, including equipment transport, inventory, and supply procurement. The incumbent in this position may be required to use vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the state or county to conduct official state business. State or county vehicles shall be used only for officially authorized duties and not for personal use, unless a specific exception applies under Florida law (F.S. § 287.17). 

Incumbent will provide direct, clinical dental hygiene services, including assessments, prophylaxis, periodontal therapy, fluoride treatments, radiographs, sealants, and oral health education, in the fixed-dental clinic. The incumbent will work chairside, with dentists and dental assistants during clinical procedures, supporting efficient patient flow and high-quality care. Incumbent will complete and maintain accurate electronic dental records, charting, referrals, and billing-related documentation. Incumbent will apply public health principles to patient education, emphasizing prevention, disease management, and community resources while ensuring adherence to infection control protocols, sterilization procedures, and clinic safety standards. Incumbent will support clinic operations through patient triage, coordination of care, supply management, and quality improvement activities, to include asset management of dental supplies by checking expiration dates, rotating clean supply and ensuring that instruments and supplies needed to provide excellent dental care are always available. Incumbent will order and maintain dental supply inventory, which will be utilized in both the SBSP, and fixed-dental clinic care.

Incumbent will participate in oral health outreach events, health fairs, and emergency response activities, along with other duties, as assigned. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

Knowledge of dental terminology, dental hygiene principles, practices, and procedures.  Skill in using dental instrument and equipment.  Skilled in performing prophylaxis, instructing patients in preventive dental techniques, and using general office equipment i.e., personal, or portable computers. Ability to follow general office procedures & practices, prioritize, plan, organize & coordinate work assignments & communicate effectively verbally & in writing, establish & maintain effective working relationship with others, to understand, interpret & apply applicable rules, regulations, policies & procedures.  Ability to assemble, disassemble, and transport portable dental equipment to and from school settings with time proficiency, based on distance, in county designated vehicle.

Minimum -.Licensure as a Dental Hygienist in accordance with Florida Stature 466.  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) – current or obtainable during employment. Board of Dentistry, Chapter 64B, 64B5 through 64B-27 Certification of Acknowledgement - this position follows and monitors compliance (when applicable) mandatory requirements in Section 215.422, Florida Statutes, and Chapter3A-24, Florida Administrative Code.

Preferred- DOH Experience, Bi-Lingual, Pediatric Dental Experience, Eagle Soft Software knowledge, 

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement

.

Where You Will Work:

Florida Department of Health in Putnam County

2801 Kennedy St

Palatka, FL 32177

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. 

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.  

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.