Part-Time Dental Assistant

State of Oregon • Woodburn, OR

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Oregon Youth Authority is hiring a Dental Assistant for the dental clinic at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Oregon. The role works chairside with a dentist to provide preventive and restorative dental services and oral health education to youth ages 12 through 24 in OYA’s care. The position regularly uses expanded-function skills, including coronal polishing, temporary crowns, and digital radiography, while working with a consistent patient population and a collaborative health services team. The position is part-time, scheduled for up to 30 hours per week. The salary range is based on full-time hours and is prorated for part-time work; benefits are also prorated according to hours worked.

Requirements

• One year of support experience, including at least six months of chairside dental assisting experience; OR graduation from a dental assisting program, a valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation card, Certification for Radiologic Proficiency, and Dental Assisting National Board expanded-functions (EFDA) certification.
• Certification for Radiologic Proficiency from the Oregon State Board of Dentistry.
• Expanded Functions certification (EFDA) from the Oregon State Board of Dentistry.
• Must have and maintain a valid Healthcare Provider-level CPR card.

Nice To Haves

• Experience using electronic dental records or practice management software and digital radiography or imaging software.
• Experience performing Oregon expanded functions on patients in a clinical work setting, such as coronal polishing, placing and removing matrix bands, fabricating temporary crowns, and taking preliminary impressions.
• Experience applying infection control and sterilization monitoring procedures, including instrument processing, sterilization logs, and instrument counts.
• Experience providing dental care in a correctional, juvenile justice, community health, public health, school-based, hospital, residential, or other safety-net setting.
• Ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including dentist, nursing, medical, and facility staff, to coordinate youth care.
• Ability to manage competing clinic priorities, such as chairside assisting, sterilization, and operatory setup, during a changing schedule while maintaining infection control.
• Ability to communicate with youth in a respectful, encouraging, trauma-informed way, including adapting oral hygiene instruction to each person.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, accuracy, and safety awareness in a secure setting.
• Commitment to equitable, culturally responsive care for youth of all backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Assist the dentist chairside with examinations and restorative, surgical, and preventive procedures, and chart examination findings as relayed by the dentist.
• Position sensors and expose digital radiographs in accordance with Oregon Board of Dentistry standards.
• Perform expanded functions, including coronal polishing, placing and removing matrix bands, fabricating and recementing temporary crowns, taking preliminary impressions and bite registrations, removing sutures, and replacing orthodontic elastic ties.
• Provide oral hygiene instruction and fluoride treatments to help youth develop lasting oral health habits.
• Prepare operatories, instruments, and materials; sterilize instruments; maintain daily instrument counts and sterilization logs; and inform the dentist of supply needs.

Benefits

• Low-cost medical, vision, and dental plans for employees and their families.
• Life insurance, short- and long-term disability, deferred compensation savings plans, and flexible spending accounts for health and childcare.
• 11 holidays, 3 personal business days, monthly sick leave, and vacation leave that increases with years of service.
• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Wellness resources supporting work-life balance, health, and overall well-being.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• Access to Get There, Oregon’s carpool matching tool and trip planner.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed