Dental Assistants

Akicita Federal•Bemidji, MN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Akicita Federal is hiring Dental Assistants to provide chairside and preventive dental care at the White Earth Health Center and its satellite clinics in Naytahwaush and Pine Point in Ogema, Minnesota. The role serves American Indian and Alaska Native patients of all ages through the Indian Health Service. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, full-time at 2,080 hours per year, with no overtime and federal holidays off. Pay is $28–$30 per hour. Before starting, candidates must complete a background investigation, including fingerprinting and an FBI national criminal history search, as well as a character investigation under the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. Unsupervised patient contact is not permitted until the character investigation is complete. Required health documentation includes tuberculosis testing, documented immunity to MMR and varicella, Hepatitis B vaccination with immunity confirmed by HBSAB testing, and annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations per clinic requirements. Licenses and certifications will be verified through the relevant state and national databases, with results reported to IHS.

Requirements

Meet at least one of these qualification pathways: six months of dental assisting experience plus a dental radiology certificate; military dental assisting training plus a dental radiology certificate; graduation from a CODA-accredited one-year dental assisting program; national Registered Dental Assistant registration through AMT; state Registered Dental Assistant registration; Certified Dental Assistant certification through DANB; or a current, unrestricted state Licensed Dental Assistant license.
Hold current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Keep all licenses, certifications, and registrations used to qualify current for the duration of the assignment.
Have no work or health restrictions that would interfere with performance in a dental department.
Have the skill and knowledge to relate constructively to patients from the Native American community.
Be able to work with patients, the public, and clinic staff.
Candidates with pending dental assistant licensure, certification, or registration actions are not eligible.
Complete the required background and character investigations before starting; unsupervised patient contact is prohibited until the character investigation is complete.
Meet required immunization and TB-testing documentation requirements: a two-step TB skin test or proof of one within the last 12 months; documented immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; Hepatitis B vaccine series with immunity confirmed by HBSAB testing; and annual influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations per clinic requirements.

Responsibilities

Assist dentists chairside by suctioning, retracting, irrigating, administering nitrous oxide, and passing instruments.
Provide preventive dental services, including sealants, silver ion antimicrobial treatments, and fluoride varnishes.
Perform dental prophylaxes and gross debridement.
Take oral radiographs and dental impressions in accordance with department SOPs and protocols.
Triage dental patients and take vital signs, weights, and blood glucose readings; document findings in the electronic dental record.
Chart conditions, diagnoses, treatment plans, procedures, outcomes, and procedure codes in the electronic dental chart.
Set up and break down operatories; pre-clean instruments; disinfect operatories, equipment, and supplies.
Perform and document equipment maintenance on daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual schedules.