Dental Assistant

Open Door Community Health Centers; United States; On-site; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Language exam premium

Paid training

Job summary

Open Door Community Health Centers is seeking a Dental Assistant to provide chair-side support, assist with a range of dental procedures, and maintain accurate patient records in a community health setting. The role requires knowledge of DA scope of practice in California, CPR certification, and completion of accredited training or equivalent experience.

Base wage varies by role and language-exam bonuses may apply.

Qualifications

• Completion of accredited Dental Assistant training program OR two or more years of dental assistant experience.
• Current CPR Certification.
• Dental Radiography Certificate
• Infection Control and OSHA Certificate

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for procedures by dentist and assist chair-side.
• Assist dentist with procedures including cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, extractions, dentures.
• Take, develop and mount X-rays; use Scanx, Sensors, and panorex as qualified; import/export images.
• Check blood sugars for patients.
• Files patient dental information into chart accurately.
• Provide patient education on proper dental care.
• Prepare operatories between visits by cleaning and stocking; adhere to OSHA guidelines.

Skills

Communication

Accurate charting

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Professional demeanor

Education

DA training or 2+ years experience

Tools

Job description

Committed to Our Community in the Heart of the Redwoods. Removing Barriers to Healthcare Access FoCHC Fortuna Community Health Center

The Dental Assistant (DA) provides chair-side support to dentists and dental hygienists, working collaboratively in a patient-centered care team setting.

Dental Assistants advocate for patients and assist in the furtherance of their care as directed within the California DA Scope of Practice.

A DA possesses basic understanding and demonstration of DA tasks and scope of practice with support of additional training as outlined in the essential duties and responsibilities below.

Our Dental Assistant hourly wage ranges are listed below. All new hires will start at the base wage for the position. Job Experience and other requirements may be required to be hired at a higher step on our ladder. Dental Assistant - $26.00 to $34.06 Registered Dental Assistant - $28.00 to $36.71 Hmong and Spanish speakers who successfully pass a language exam will receive a minimum of .75 cents added to their wage.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Able to demonstrate at end of probationary period)

• Prepares patients for procedures by dentist and assists chair-side.
• Assists dentist with as many procedures as adequately trained to do, including but not limited to: cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, extractions, dentures and coronal polishing.
• Takes, develops and mounts X-rays; properly uses Scanx, Sensors, and panorex machine as qualified; imports and exports images.
• Checks blood sugars for patients.
• Files patient dental information into chart accurately.
• Provides patient education on proper dental care.
• Prepares operatories between patient visits by cleaning and stocking in accordance with dentist’s practices and OSHA compliance guidelines.
• Wraps equipment for autoclaving and operates autoclaves correctly; mixes and uses different cleaning solutions as required for each test.
• Follow guidelines for universal precautions including hand washing and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as appropriate.
• Navigates medical emergency according to safety procedures and scope of practice.
• Keeps operatories, hallways, and other areas clean.
• Adheres to the basic DA scope of practice in California.
• Other duties and responsibilities as designated by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS:

• Ability to promote effective communication between the patient and the dental provider.
• Ability to accurately chart patient information.
• Ability to handle difficult or confrontational situations in a calm, consistent, and equitable manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish constructive professional working relationships among a diverse workforce.
• Ability to work as a member of a team in order to communicate and/or solicit pertinent information to and from other team members and support team decisions; ability to work independently as well.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and verbal; Ability to establish constructive working relationships with all levels of management and employees of varied and diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to effectively represent ODCHC’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships among coworkers, public, private, and professional groups.
• Strong computer skills with specific aptitude in Microsoft Office Suite and/or Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
• Exercises sound and responsible judgment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Completion of accredited Dental Assistant training program OR two or more years of dental assistant experience.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Current CPR Certification.
• Certificate of Completion or degree of accredited Dental Assistant training program or evidence of equivalent related experience and/or training as a Dental Assistant (required).
• Dental Radiography Certificate
• Infection Control and OSHA Certificate

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None.

SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT:

The Dental Assistant reports directly to the Administrative Site Director and is an integral member of the Dental care team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described are representative of those needed to successfully perform the essential duties of the position. Reasonable accommodation will be made to allow otherwise qualified candidates to perform these functions.

• Ability to communicate via telephone, video, and/or in-person.
• Vision adequate to read documents, computer screens, forms.
• Ability to remain stationary for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, or otherwise move up to 25 pounds.
• Good manual dexterity.
• Ability to use keyboard and view computer screens for extended periods.
• Ability to travel locally and long-distance as needed.
• Ability to move around offices and clinics as needed.

About Open Door Community Health Centers

Open Door Community Health Centers was founded in 1971 and is dedicated to providing healthcare and education to the residents of Humboldt County, Del Norte County, and surrounding rural areas.

We offer a comprehensive range of healthcare services, including Primary Medical Care, Pediatric Services, Chronic Illness Management, Dental Care, Pregnancy, Prenatal Services, and more.

Recognizing the critical importance of accessibility, we proactively identify areas with unique healthcare needs and extend our high-quality healthcare services and educational programs to individuals who face obstacles such as financial constraints, geographical isolation, or social barriers.

Open Door Community Health Centers has earned recognition as one of the best places to work in Humboldt County.

Our focus on employee well-being includes offering free monthly online therapy sessions, interactive training opportunities, educational programs, and various employee appreciation events throughout the year.

We provide comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, to all full-time employees and some part-time employees.

For those looking to embark on a new career in the medical or dental fields, Open Door offers paid training for many entry-level positions.

Open Door participates in the E-Verify program. This means we use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees by electronically verifying information from their Form I-9 with the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

Participation in E-Verify is voluntary for our organization, but we are committed to maintaining a legal and compliant workforce.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: Open Door Community Health Centers does not discriminate based on citizenship status or national origin in accordance with 8 U.S.C. § 1324b.

For more information about E-Verify, please visit: E-Verify Website (https://www.e-verify.gov/)