Dental Assistant

Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe•Port Angeles, WA

65d•$0 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

Assist dentists in providing professional dental services to all patients receiving services at the Lower Elwha Dental Clinic. Assuring quality of care is best practice, and that teamwork is evident and customers service is the goal.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED.
Minimum 5 years dental assisting experience or CDA.
Must be willing to attend trainings pertinent to position.
Current Washington State driver license and insurable under State of Washington.
Knowledge of dental routines, terms, instruments, materials, and procedures, techniques of dental x-ray; dental charting; types of sterilization and sterile techniques; record keeping, organizing, lab techniques, clean, reliable, and flexible.
Knowledge of OSHA standards.
Ability to operate dental x-ray; cleaning a processor, sterilizer, suction lines; cold sterile and other dental equipment.
Follow written and oral instructions.
Ability to follow department and Tribal policies and procedures.
Ability to follow instructions and adhere to prescribed routines and practices.
All Health Department employees must be fully immunized against vaccine-preventable disease consistent with current IHS and CDC recommendations for health care workers.
Willing to train to meet qualifications for a highly motivated candidate.
Person must be flexible and able to cope with change.
Person must have self-motivation in this key position.
Must be able to recognize and complete tasks without direct supervision.
Must abide by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe personnel policies and procedures and the Drug and Alcohol policy which could include pre-employment drug testing.

Nice To Haves

Ability to make patients feel at ease.
Full scope Dental Assisting.

Responsibilities

Seat patient, adjust chair, triage and prepare patient for dentist. Sets up treatment room with necessary equipment and supplies for each procedure. Breaks down, sterilizes rooms in timely manner for next patient.
Perform four-handed dentistry and full scope of chairside assisting.
Collect and record patient health histories, chart exams for dentist and will perio chart for hygienist (dental charting).
Patient management during dental procedures.
Call in prescriptions per doctor and photocopy and file them when necessary.
Release patient with correct paperwork making sure they will get the correct follow-up appointment.
Prepare dental materials: cements, amalgam, composite, impression materials, etc.
Handle Lab cases and labs.
Handle prevention and management of dental and medical emergencies.
Inventory control and management, place orders, and maintain stock.
Deliver patient personal oral care instructions including oral hygiene and post-operative instructions.
Deliver community dental health presentations and work with other programs.
Plan, assemble, and facilitate health fair booths.
Manage the dental office infection control plan to meet OSHA and CDC standards.
Handle instrument cleaning, sterilization/disinfection, re-circulation, and organizing.
Perform dental treatment room disinfection.
Take dental x-rays, develop, mount, and file in charts.
Polish teeth to remove stains and soft deposits.
Provide child prophylaxis and apply topical fluoride treatments.
Take impressions and bite registrations.
Apply pit and fissure sealants.
Place and remove periodontal dressings.
Remove surgical sutures.
Adapt temporary crowns.
Place topical medications including the application of fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride under the direct supervision of the attending dentist.
Take blood pressure.
Remove excess cement from fabricated restorations and orthodontic bands.
Pour impressions to make stone and plaster models.
Trim models, use a lathe, custom tray and other duties in lab.
Fabricate mouth guards, temporary crowns, custom impression trays and bleaching trays.
Construct dental charts, file, have basic computer skills, and a willingness to help the front desk when needed.
Learn and understand how labs, CHS, and Insurances work to communicate with patients.
Work well in a team setting, willing to help others, positive attitude, take direction well.
Assistants trained in Expanded Functions will be able to perform respective duties in perio or restorative under direct supervision of a dentist.
Other duties as assigned.