Dental Assistant I - Temporary

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center•Cornelius, OR

4h•Onsite

About The Position

This temporary position is part of an internal DA I DA II upskilling pilot program designed to prepare experienced Dental Assistants for expanded functions through structured clinical training, mentorship, and certification support. This is a temporary, four-month training role aligned with the DA I DA II Upskilling Pilot. Continued employment is contingent on program completion and available positions. At Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, we honor all members of our community and acknowledge the dignity of each person we serve. Our purpose is to provide high quality, comprehensive primary health care to the communities of Washington and Yamhill counties with a special emphasis on migrant and seasonal farm workers and a view to removing barriers to health care. We strive to provide an environment that welcomes and values the people we employ and serve. If you are unsure whether you meet all the required qualifications for this role but are interested and passionate about this potential position, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

High School graduate or equivalent.
ICE and Radiology certifications required at time of hire.
Minimum 1 year of prior dental assistant experience required or equivalent work experience.
Must successfully complete the CPFDA certification during the four-month pilot program. VGMHC will reimburse certification costs upon successful completion.
Ability to be culturally sensitive and to relate to people of varied racial, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Ability to work independently as well as part of a professional team.
Willing to support own team members to accomplish daily activities.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, written and spoken, preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the dentist or dental hygienist in transfer of instruments utilizing approved dental assisting principles.
Assist the operator in preparation and delivery of dental materials.
Layout necessary instruments for procedure.
Expose and process x-rays and duplicate when necessary; ensure all x-rays are suitable for diagnosis.
Provide supportive care for patients.
Keep the operatory neat and clean during procedures and disinfect thoroughly before each patient arrives.
Properly maintain hand pieces and ensure that vacuum lines, unit, chair, light, instruments and try set ups are thoroughly disinfected and properly sterilized at all times.
Maintain inventory of and order dental supplies; provide administration with appropriate purchase orders.
Restock rooms as necessary.
Provide patient management for the dental department.
Perform expanded function duties as necessary.
Work with the Dental Operations Coordinator on infection control and OSHA guidelines.
Participate in structured training activities, including skills labs, study groups, and supervised clinical practice.
Work under the guidance of assigned hygienist and/or dentist preceptors to develop coronal polishing and other expanded function skills.
Actively prepare for and complete the Certified Preventative Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) certification within the program timeframe.
Communicate schedule needs and progress with program leads and clinic leadership.
Demonstrate readiness to progress through skill development, professionalism, and engagement.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Handle protected health information (PHI) in a manner consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).