Dental Assistant I- ONC-I

002 Sea Mar Community Health Center; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 59,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Sea Mar Community Health Centers seeks a Dental Assistant to support dental providers in delivering high-quality patient care. The role requires assisting with a wide range of procedures and adhering to the clinic's competency and probation requirements, including passing an 80% pre-hire competency test and a 60‑day probation evaluation.

You will work in a mission-driven setting that emphasizes dignity, cultural sensitivity, and continuing learning, with paid time for evaluations and ongoing

Qualifications

• Must pass a pre-hire competency test with at least 80% accuracy.
• Must complete probation requirements with a 60-day evaluation.
• Annual competency evaluations are required for all Dental Assistants.
• Training plans and calendars provided at time of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide chairside assistance using four-handed dentistry for Diagnostic, Preventive, Restorative, Endodontic, Periodontic, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontic, and Orthodontic procedures as allowed by law.
• Identify and address age-specific patient needs (infants, adolescents, geriatrics).
• Escort patients to and from the treatment room; greet, seat, and depart patients professionally.
• Maintain confidentiality and proper handling of patient information.

Skills

Dental chairside assistance

Four-handed dentistry

Patient care

Professionalism

Job description

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization.

Position Summary

To assist the dental provider in the delivery of dental services to Sea Mar Community Health Center patients demonstrating the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patients being served. The pre-hire competency test must be passed (at 80% correct) before a person can transfer or be hired. At the time of hire, an employee will be given the training plan and calendar with all important dates and the outline of what material is to be covered. At that time the expectation must be made clear that they will be required to pass a competency test after 60 days worked in order to pass probation. At 40 days worked, the employee will be given an evaluation of job functions and outlines any deficiencies that need to be improved. Any training necessary to clarify these expectations will be given by the dental supervisor or dental designee at that time. The Probationary Competency Evaluation/Test will be given just prior to reaching the 60th day worked. Only two hours of paid time should be allotted to complete the evaluation/test. It shall be scored as follows: Above 80% – Pass Probationary Eval to include review/training on wrong answers. 60–80% – Extend Probation for 22 working days. Probationary Eval to include written list of areas to resolve. Below 60% – Terminate employee. An annual competency test will be given each year to all Dental Assisting staff that has been out of probation for more than 90 days. If this annual test is not passed with at least 80% correct, the Dental Assistant will receive 1-on-1 training in deficient areas, within 1 month of the annual test. Failure to pass the subsequent tests it will result in disciplinary action including suspension and up to termination of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered, culturally-aware services. Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an excellent client experience by: Understanding and empathizing with client needs, Surpassing client expectations, Demonstrating a high level of integrity, Exhibiting compassion and commitment, Advocating for social justice, Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team, Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology. As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Anticipate and provide to Dental Providers all necessary chair side assistance using four-handed dentistry technique with procedures in categories as required: Diagnostic, Preventative, Restorative, Endodontics, Periodontics, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontic, Orthodontics and other services allowed by the Washington Dental Practice Act.
• Identify and categorize each patient's age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescents, and geriatric patients.
• You must escort each patient to and from the treatment room.
• Greet, seat, and depart patients, being courteous and professional at all times, especially when talking to patients or discussing confidential in