Dental Assistant I

VALLEY-WIDE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC•Alamosa, CO

4d•$18 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an enthusiastic Dental Assistant to join our dental team. In this role you’ll handle a blend of administrative and chair-side responsibilities while learning core skills in sterilization, patient education, and infection control. If you’re organized, eager to learn, and excited to launch a career in dentistry, we’d love to meet you! Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent (required)
Current CPR/BLS certification (or obtained upon hire)
Excellent communication, organizational, and multi-tasking abilities
Professional demeanor with sensitivity to diverse patient populations

Nice To Haves

Two years of office or customer-service experience preferred
Knowledge of dental terms, procedures, and Colorado Radiology training a plus

Responsibilities

Greet patients and keep charts, treatment plans, referrals, and daily charges up to date.
Complete daily documentation for sterilization logs, equipment checks, and infection-prevention records.
Navigate the digital X-ray program and verify correct placement of X-ray orders.
Assist providers by documenting rapid-response notes in potential emergencies.
Work with Billing to resolve incomplete or missing information promptly.
Track and document inventory of supplies, materials, and clinical logbooks.
Check patients in: record blood pressure, pain level, medications, allergies, health history, and X-ray needs.
Prepare operatories for basic dental care (exams, preventive visits, restorations, oral surgery, endo, removable/fixed prosthodontics).
Chair-side assist using 4-handed dentistry techniques, proper suction, and retraction.
Take alginate impressions and bite registrations; pour models and fabricate custom trays and bite rims.
Polish prosthetics, perform toothbrush/rubber-cup prophy, apply fluoride, and mix dental materials.
Disinfect and reset operatories following blood-borne-pathogen protocols.
Check/stock rooms daily and ensure correct storage of sterile items.
Clean and sterilize instruments in ultrasonic units and autoclaves; monitor sterilization indicators.
Help maintain clinical equipment and comply with OSHA, AAAHC, CDC, and internal infection-control standards.
Provide oral-hygiene instruction, review consent forms, and deliver post-operative guidelines.
Explain basic restorative, oral-surgery, endodontic, periodontal, and pediatric procedures.
Participate in onboarding, workflow education, and new-hire competencies.
Prepare for the final Dental Assistant exam and radiology certification.