Dental Assistant

Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians•Dowagiac, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Dental Assistant to join our team and grow in your profession. The schedule will be four ten-hour shifts per week. We provide opportunities for job training and advancement in addition to generous PTO, health insurance, retirement plans, and more! Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening (including marijuana) is required for this position along with random screening. Position Summary: Supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment room, patient, instruments, and materials; passing instruments and materials; performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Previous dental experience or training required.
Dental Assistant with x-ray certification preferred or achieve x-ray certification within 6 months of employment.
Minimum of one (1) year experience preferred.
Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills, and the ability to speak effectively and respond to questions.
Completion of Nitrous Certification and/or Coronal Polishing and Fluoride Application Course.
Completion of PHS Standing Order Competency training
Completion of IHS Restorative Course, or Registered Dental Assistant in State of Michigan.
Completion of Indiana EFDA training course.
Completion of IHS Periodontal Expanded Function Dental Assistant course.

Nice To Haves

Pokagon Band Preference Code applies.

Responsibilities

Complete procedures as listed in compliance with the Michigan Dental Practice act.
Prepare treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols.
Prepare patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and draping patient.
Provide information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
Provide instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area; positioning instruments for dentist's access; suctioning; passing instruments.
Provide needed materials and supplies as directed by the supervising dentist.
Provide diagnostic information by exposing and developing radiographic studies, pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
Help dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining C.P.R. certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
Educate patients by giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions.
Document dental care services by charting in patient records as directed by supervising dentist.
Maintain patient confidence by keeping information confidential.
Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
Ensure operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintaining equipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.
Maintain dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.
Conserve dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related tasks as needed.
Demonstrate proven and safe protocols for nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation, including the calculation of nitrous oxide gas used; pharmacology, biochemistry, and anatomy of nitrous oxide administration, emergency procedures, and the mechanics of operating a nitrous unit.
Demonstrate patient monitoring and proper use of special equipment.
Understand airway management, including signs of an impending emergency.
Demonstrate strategies for detecting Nitrous in the office environment.
Understand indication and contraindication for individual patient sedation.
Application of medicaments for the control or prevention of dental caries.
Polish the coronal surface of teeth.
Utilize skills learned through PHS standing order competency training including but not limited to: Partial/Denture adjustments, Occlusal guard delivery and adjustments, Sealants, Topical anesthetic administration, Creation and cementation of temporary crowns, Final impressions/intraoral scanning, Suture removal.
Understanding of tooth morphology/structure and the materials used to restore them.
Place and finish Class I B amalgam, Class V B amalgam, Class I O amalgam, Class II amalgam, Class III composite, Class V composite.
Placing, condensing, and carving amalgam restorations
Removing sutures
Cementing orthodontic bands or initial placement of orthodontic brackets and attachments for aligners
Placing Class I resin bonded restorations, occlusal adjustment, finishing and polishing with non-tissue cutting slow speed rotary hand pieces.
Taking final impression for indirect restoration and prosthesis including bite registration, intra-oral imaging, and in –office fabrication of restorations.
Assisting and monitoring the administration of nitrous oxide analgesia.
Placing and removing non-epinephrine retraction cords or materials.
Drying endodontic canals with absorbent points.
Applying cavity liners and bases.
Taking impressions for intraoral appliances including bite registrations.
Placing and removing matrices and wedges.
Taking digital scans for final restoration or intra-oral appliances.
Preliminary examination including performing pulp vitality testing.
Adjusting and polishing contacts and occlusion of indirect restoration before cementation by the dentist.
Applying desensitizing agents.
Etching and placing adhesives before placement of orthodontic brackets and attachments for aligners.
Applying anticariogenic agents including, but not limited to, sealants, fluoride varnish, fluoride applications.
Instructing in the use and care of dental appliances.
Placing and removing dental dam.
Trial sizing of orthodontic bands.
Temporary cementing and removing temporary crowns and bands.
Taking impressions or digital scans for study and opposing models and matrices for temporary crowns and bridges.
Fabricating temporary restorations, temporary crowns, and temporary bridges.
Placing a nonmetallic temporary restoration with non-tissue cutting instruments.
Applying nonprescription topical anesthetic.
Removing excess temporary cement from supragingival surfaces of a tooth with hand instruments only.
Polish assigned teeth with a slow-speed rotary handpiece immediately before an acid etch procedure.
Polishing and contouring of sealants with a slow speed rotary hand piece immediately following a procedure for occlusal adjustment.
Provide nutritional counseling
Dispense orthodontic aligners.
Rubber dam placement, resin, and amalgam restorative techniques for Class I, II, III, IV, and V restorations, as well as the necessary matrix technique for each restoration.
Detect disease, supra, and subgingival calculus.
Provide thorough ultrasonic scaling of teeth.
Accurately code for periodontal and hygiene procedures.
Recommend effective toothpastes, mouth rinses, and oral hygiene aids to patients.
Motivate patients to improve plaque removal and periodontal health.
Fill in at the front desk, when necessary.
Perform other related functions as assigned.