Dental Assistant

NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities; New York (NY); On-site; USD 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is seeking a Dental Sterilization Technician to support dental care operations in a clinical setting. You will sterilize instruments, assist the dentist chair-side, and help prepare patient treatment areas while upholding infection control standards.

Responsibilities include maintaining records, scheduling and tracking appointments, and ensuring HIPAA-compliant documentation and general facility upkeep.

Qualifications

• Certification in central sterile technician role is required.

Responsibilities

• Sterilize, decontaminate, package, and sterilize all instruments.
• Assist dentist chair-side by passing instruments and materials.
• Prepare patients and treatment areas, and maintain infection control standards.
• Schedule, post, and track appointments and treatments using computer software.
• Maintain patient records in accordance with HIPAA and facility policies.
• Perform light housekeeping and support duties per OSHA guidelines.

Education

Certified Registered Central Service Technician (or substantially equivalent credential)

Job description

• Notes treatments to be performed during appointment and prepares work area by laying out dental instruments, materials, and equipment in proper array.
• Prepares the patient for treatment by seating patient, obtaining records, and applying protective garb.
• During the performance of treatment services by the dentist, assists the dentist directly chair-side with the anticipation of procedural needs, including the preparation and passing of appropriate instruments and materials.
• As required by the progress of events in treatment and as instructed by the dentist, personally performs retractions of the patient’s tongue and cheek, and manipulates syringes, irrigation and suction equipment to keep the patient’s mouth free of saliva and blood.
• Continually observes patient’s general condition during treatment, including oral surgery, to detect evidence of distress or shock and reports observations to dentist.
• Takes dental x-rays in accordance with Public Health Law.
• Performs solely mechanical work upon inert matter in a dental office, such as trimming or mounting impressions taken by the dentist. Performs office support and clerical work to meet the requirements of the dental facility.
• Schedules, posts and tracks appointments, clinic dates and times, and treatments using appropriate computer software.
• Posts and files records, such as records of appointments and clinical records of patients’ conditions and treatments administered, in accordance with requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
• Answers questions from and provides information to various parties regarding facility activities and procedures.
• Prepares or assists others in the preparation of routine dental reports. Performs light housekeeping tasks following current infection control and OSHA guidelines.
• Decontaminates, scrubs, packages, and sterilizes all instruments*.
• Inventories packages and cartons of dental supplies and materials and reorders supplies as directed by the dentist to maintain sufficient inventory for facility operations.
• Disposes of used materials and supplies in accordance with medical-waste disposal regulations and protocols, and processes contaminated non-disposable items as directed by the dentist.
• Cleans, dusts, and polishes fixtures, furniture, and equipment in the dental facility.

Duties Description

• Notes treatments to be performed during appointment and prepares work area by laying out dental instruments, materials, and equipment in proper array.
• Prepares the patient for treatment by seating patient, obtaining records, and applying protective garb.
• During the performance of treatment services by the dentist, assists the dentist directly chair-side with the anticipation of procedural needs, including the preparation and passing of appropriate instruments and materials.
• As required by the progress of events in treatment and as instructed by the dentist, personally performs retractions of the patient’s tongue and cheek, and manipulates syringes, irrigation and suction equipment to keep the patient’s mouth free of saliva and blood.
• Continually observes patient’s general condition during treatment, including oral surgery, to detect evidence of distress or shock and reports observations to dentist.
• Takes dental x-rays in accordance with Public Health Law.
• Performs solely mechanical work upon inert matter in a dental office, such as trimming or mounting impressions taken by the dentist. Performs office support and clerical work to meet the requirements of the dental facility.
• Schedules, posts and tracks appointments, clinic dates and times, and treatments using appropriate computer software.
• Posts and files records, such as records of appointments and clinical records of patients’ conditions and treatments administered, in accordance with requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
• Answers questions from and provides information to various parties regarding facility activities and procedures.
• Prepares or assists others in the preparation of routine dental reports. Performs light housekeeping tasks following current infection control and OSHA guidelines.
• Decontaminates, scrubs, packages, and sterilizes all instruments*.
• Inventories packages and cartons of dental supplies and materials and reorders supplies as directed by the dentist to maintain sufficient inventory for facility operations.
• Disposes of used materials and supplies in accordance with medical-waste disposal regulations and protocols, and processes contaminated non-disposable items as directed by the dentist.
• Cleans, dusts, and polishes fixtures, furniture, and equipment in the dental facility.

Minimum Qualifications

Non-competitive:

• Incumbents of positions that perform sterilization duties may be required to possess current certification by a nationally accredited central sterile technician credentialing organization as a Certified Registered Central Service Technician, or a substantially equivalent credential.

Additional Comments

• Posted Hiring Salary includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for CSEA Grade 08 ($42,209), Geographic Pay Differential ($6,000) and the downstate adjustment ($4,150). Geographic Pay Differential and Downstate adjustment is also added to the job rate of ($51,981).
• For CSEA positions: Local Bidding Agreements will be honored.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA).
• If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at [phone] or email [e-mail] to obtain information and RA forms.
• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
• Paid Holidays and Leave:

• Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.

• Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.

• Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.

• Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.

• Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.

Health Care Coverage

• Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.

Paid Parental Leave

• Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

Retirement Program

• Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.

Professional Development and Education and Training

• NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.

Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.

OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

***All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.***