Dental Assistant I–II (Open Rank)

University of Colorado•Denver, CO

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Colorado College of Nursing is hiring a full-time Dental Assistant I or II for Sheridan Health Services, a multi-site, nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Center in southwest Denver. The role provides quality oral health care to patients at community clinic sites and works with dentists, hygienists, faculty, dental students, and other clinic team members. The clinic serves adults and children and provides primary care, prenatal and postpartum care, women’s health, dentistry, pharmacy, behavioral health, and outpatient substance use treatment. Its care model centers patients and incorporates their values and beliefs into decision-making. The position is onsite at Sheridan Health Services in southwest Denver. The work includes clinical assisting and preparation, radiography, sterilization and equipment upkeep, patient intake, and administrative and payment-related tasks. Dental Assistant II duties include additional clinical procedures and training responsibilities beyond those performed at the Dental Assistant I level. The position may involve evening hours and weekend promotional events, as needed, and work in patient-care settings with possible exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.

Requirements

Dental Assistant I: Graduate from an accredited dental assistant training program, or have one year of dental assistant experience in lieu of program completion.
Dental Assistant II: Graduate from an accredited dental assistant training program, or have one year of dental assistant experience in lieu of program completion, plus one year of experience as a dental assistant.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.
Willing and able to obtain current BLS/CPR certification by the date of hire.
Willing and able to remain credentialed and keep credentialing materials current.
Willing and able to work weekends as needed for promotional events and evening hours based on departmental needs.
Willing and able to provide oral health care at Sheridan Health Services and other community clinic locations based on departmental needs.
Willing and able to work in a patient-care environment with some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.
Exemplary patient care skills; collaborative approach; ability to work with children and adults; analytical thinking; and strong social skills.
Fundamental knowledge of dental materials, including their use, maintenance, and storage; digital competency; and familiarity with an Electronic Medical Record program.
Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize, function as a team member, and be responsible and reliable; welcoming and friendly attitude.
Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential client information according to HIPAA policy and participate in quality improvement efforts.

Nice To Haves

Dental Assistant I: One year of experience as a dental assistant.
Daily experience using Spanish, Dari, Farsi, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, or Swahili, in addition to English, to communicate clinical terminology.
Experience with or formal training in handling bloodborne pathogens.
Experience with or formal training in complying with OSHA Biohazard Safety Standards.
Experience as a dental assistant in a Federally Qualified Health Center, Patient-Centered Medical Home, and/or community health setting.
Dental Assistant II: One year of experience as a dental assistant in a Federally Qualified Health Center, Patient-Centered Medical Home, and/or community health setting.
Experience with or formal training in training dental assistant staff.
Experience with or formal training in performing blood glucose checks, cord placement, placing provisional crowns, temp-bond use, finish polishing, occlusal adjustment, or pulp vitality testing.

Responsibilities

Room patients in dental operatories and collect and record vital signs and blood sugar as indicated.
Assist dentists, hygienists, faculty, dental students, and other team members with patient preparation and positioning, clinical area preparation, and four-handed dentistry across a range of procedures.
Communicate clinical terminology to patients and colleagues, including in English and another language.
Prepare specialized instrument setups and inspect instruments and tools to ensure they are in good working order.
Perform waterline shocking, spore testing, deep cleaning of clinical equipment, and appropriate aseptic and sterilization procedures.
Stock and maintain dental inventory and supplies in treatment rooms.
Take dental intraoral and extraoral radiographs and other images using appropriate techniques and safety equipment; mount and identify images and transfer them into patient charts as directed.
Perform routine clinic administrative tasks, including electronic health record input and data reporting; answer calls and schedule appointments across clinic locations.
Collect patient payments, make change, reconcile the change bank, and submit daily deposits and reconciliation reports.
Obtain insurance pre-authorizations, assist with claims, verify financial coverage, and coordinate payment plans.
Print and present treatment plans and build and review treatment plan estimates with patients before they sign.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dental equipment; clean, disinfect, and maintain clinical, laboratory, and other community workspaces.
Comply with University and professional policies and procedures, communicate effectively with team members, participate in meetings, and perform other duties as assigned.
At Dental Assistant II level: make temporary crowns; train new hires and externs; place and remove retraction cords and matrix bands; polish teeth; apply fluoride; provide pre-op, post-op, and oral hygiene instructions; and chart existing restorations or conditions.