Dental Assistant - High Point (0.5 FTE)

Neighborcare Health•Seattle, WA

4d•$27 - $34

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 the care team in support of Neighborcare Health’s mission, guiding principles, service commitments, and goals. Direct patient care duties include preparing the operatory and instruments, assisting with a range of dental procedures, interviewing patients and collecting vital signs, performing preventive services, taking digital x-rays, intraoral photos and digital scans, taking impressions, fabricating provisional crowns, mixing materials, and maintaining aseptic and safety practices. The Dental Assistant anticipates and responds to patient needs under dentist supervision. Indirect patient care duties include routine equipment maintenance, reviewing charts, preparing the clinic for the next day, coordinating with dental providers about schedules, participating in huddles and meetings, scheduling appointments in the EHR, contacting patients about care needs and documenting in the EDR, and reporting safety events. The role requires excellent service, professionalism, collaboration, and timely, ethical work.

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 appropriately handle sensitive patient and staff information.
Knowledge of and adherence to asepsis, universal precautions, and sterilization processes.
Knowledge 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 sensitive discussions with staff and patients.
Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Ability to develop collaborative working relationships and contribute to a positive, team-oriented 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 the operatory for scheduled procedures by cleaning and disinfecting it and setting up instruments, materials, and appropriate anesthetic.
Provide chairside assistance for restorative work, surgical extractions, basic endodontics, scaling and root planing, pediatrics, 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 polishing, and provide oral hygiene instruction.
Take digital x-rays, intraoral photos, digital scans, and impressions; 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.
Provide courteous, service-oriented support and anticipate dental providers’ needs.
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, 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 about 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 promptly.