Dental Assistant

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS

24d•Onsite

About The Position

Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! The Dental Assistant II will perform Highly Complex/Senior level tasks. These tasks will be Dental Assistant tasks as well as Data Entry into the Dental Database. The Dental Assistant II will complete tasks under limited supervision. The Dental Assistant II is allowed considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. The dental assistant is a key team member responsible for providing direct healthcare that supports the requirement to provide dental care to all residents of the facility. Duties involve assisting the dental staff while in direct patient care, exposing and developing x-rays, maintaining infection control standards for the clinic, monitoring and maintaining essential supply levels, mixing and preparing dental materials for restorative procedures, completing minor dental laboratory procedures, maintaining dental treatment records, managing the schedule for the dentist and dental hygienist, providing oral self-care counseling to patients and staff inclinic and in-home, and collecting data to support quality enhancement. The dental assistant must be registered with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners as a “Registered Dental Assistant,” and must pass tests on jurisprudence, radiology, and infection control. With additional training the Dental Assistant may provide preventive care including coronal polishing of teeth and pit and fissure sealants. The Dental Assistant must be familiar enough with office management computer programs to use word documents, spreadsheets, and databases to maintain the dental records and data collection systems the dental department must use for daily patient care, as well as quality enhancement program initiatives and regulatory requirements. Provide treatment of HHS employees injured in the course and scope of employment.

Requirements

Knowledge of dental instruments, equipment, and materials and their uses; of sterilization methods; of x-ray film exposure and processing techniques; of dental terminology; and of oral hygiene instruction for patients and care givers.
Skill in the use of dental instruments and equipment.
Ability to assist staff in performing dental procedures; to communicate effectively; and to train others.
Ability to provide clerical skills necessary for patient management.
Ability to use computers and office management software.
Must be a “Registered Dental Assistant” as defined by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners; Registered Dental Assistants must take and pass one of the Dental Board-approved courses for Dental Assistants that covers Jurisprudence, Infection Control and Radiology and must register with the Dental Board.
Must be a high school graduate or equivalent; successful higher education preferred.
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/ Entities (LEIE).
Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Nice To Haves

Certified Dental Assistants as defined by the Dental Assistant National Board (DAN B) who are Career School Graduates or meet this standard by qualified experience
Preferred: Certified Dental Assistants as defined by the Dental Assistant National Board (DANB) who are Career School Graduates or meet this standard by qualified experience

Responsibilities

Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Daily assisting Dental Director, Clinical Dentist as well as Dental Hygienists at the Dental chair side with dental instruments and materials for residents at the El Paso State Supported Living Center (EPSSLC) in preparation for examining and treating residents.
Exposure and development of radiographs as ordered by the Dental Director or Clinical Dentist.
Maintains updated infection control standards in the Dental Clinic at the SSLC.
Arranges Dental Instruments for Treatment of residents according to procedure type.
Instructs Staff and Individuals at SSLC on proper daily oral hygiene.
Maintains Dental Supply Inventories for the Dental Clinic.
Schedule Dental Appointments for the residents.
Enters Data for each appointment.
Assists with Desensitization for the residents as required by Dental Director.
Assists Individual into Dental Clinic and Dental Chair as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned by Dental Director, Clinical Dentist as well as Hygienists.
Provide treatment of HHS employees injured in the course and scope of employment.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

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