Dental Assistant - High Point (1.0 FTE)

Neighborcare Health Career•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Dental Assistant provides chairside support to the Dentist and/or Dental Hygienist for scheduled procedures and prepares and maintains the instruments and equipment needed to support patient treatment. The role works collaboratively with other team members in support of Neighborcare Health’s mission, guiding principles, service commitments, and goals. Direct patient care includes preparing and disinfecting operatories; setting up instruments, materials, and anesthetic; assisting with restorative work, surgical extractions, basic endodontics, scaling and root planing, pediatric care, and removable prosthodontics; interviewing patients and collecting vital signs; and performing designated preventive and clinical tasks. These include placing sealants, fluoride treatments and coronal polish, providing oral hygiene instruction, taking digital x-rays, intraoral photos and digital scans, taking and pouring impressions, fabricating provisional crowns, mixing materials, and placing rubber dams, matrices, and wedges. The assistant passes instruments using aseptic techniques and safety standards and responds to patient needs under dentist supervision. Indirect care responsibilities include maintaining equipment as assigned, reviewing charts before treatment, preparing the clinic and appointments for the next day, coordinating daily schedules with dental providers, contributing patient insights at team huddles, scheduling appointments in the EHR as needed, and contacting patients about care needs with accurate documentation in the EDR. The Dental Assistant also participates in dental and staff meetings and maintains ethical standards, including timely reporting of safety events. This position is based at the High Point location and is listed as 1.0 FTE. It is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW. The target wage range is $27.08 to $34.04 per hour; final offers depend on factors including skills, experience, location, qualifications, work schedule, and other job-related reasons.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Current Washington State Department of Health Dental Assistant license.
BLS certification.
At least 280 hours of chairside dental assisting experience.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex health care environment.
Ability to comply with HIPAA and confidentiality policies and procedures and handle confidential, sensitive patient and staff information.
Knowledge of and adherence to asepsis, universal precautions, and sterilization processes.
Knowledge and understanding of dental terminology, instruments, and procedures.
Ability to work respectfully and effectively with people of varying ethnicities, socioeconomic levels, cultures, and sexual orientations.
Ability to conduct discussions of a sensitive nature with staff and patients.
Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Ability to develop collaborative working relationships that foster teamwork and a positive work environment.
Effective time management skills.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with computers, email, and electronic medical and dental records.
Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program.
One year of dental assisting experience.

Responsibilities

Prepare and disinfect operatories and set up instruments, materials, and anesthetic for scheduled procedures.
Provide chairside assistance for restorative work, surgical extractions, basic endodontics, scaling and root planing, pediatric procedures, and removable prosthodontics.
Interview patients about the reason for their visit and collect vital signs, such as blood pressure.
Place sealants, perform fluoride treatments and coronal polish, and provide oral hygiene instruction.
Take digital x-rays, intraoral photos, and digital scans; take and pour impressions; and fabricate provisional crowns.
Mix materials and place rubber dams, matrices, and wedges.
Pass instruments using proper aseptic techniques and safety standards, and anticipate and respond to patient needs under dentist supervision.
Perform routine equipment maintenance as assigned.
Review patient charts before treatment and prepare the clinic for the next day's schedule and appointments.
Communicate with dental providers about daily schedules to support the patient experience.
Participate in team huddles and share patient insights to help anticipate needs and care gaps.
Schedule patient appointments in the EHR as needed.
Call patients regarding care needs and document accurately and appropriately in the EDR as directed.
Participate in back-office dental meetings, huddles, and staff meetings.
Maintain ethical standards and report safety events in a timely manner.
Work collaboratively and provide courteous, service-oriented support to dental providers and team members.