Dental Assistant I

002 Sea Mar Community Health Center; Lakewood (WA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Prescription coverage

Life Insurance

Long Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

PTO and Holidays

Job summary

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is seeking a Dental Assistant to join our dental team. The role provides chairside support across comprehensive dental services, performs patient care tasks, and ensures compliance with infection control standards.

Must read English and communicate effectively with patients and staff, with bilingual English/Spanish preferred. The position requires a High School Diploma or GED, completion of a formal Dental Assistant program, and WA DOH registration.

Qualifications

• Must read and write in English.
• Able to communicate with patients and staff both verbally and in writing.
• Must read and interpret common dental materials.
• Able to convey basic mathematical figures and amounts.

Responsibilities

• Provide four-handed chairside assistance using four-handed dentistry.
• Escort patients to and from the treatment room.
• Greet, seat and depart patients professionally.
• Provide patient education before/after/during procedures.
• Communicate provider delays to the Lead Dental Assistant and staff.
• Schedule appointments in Dentrix and register patients in Allscripts PM.
• Complete charting in Dentrix using SOAP or PARTS format.
• Take vitals such as blood pressure as directed.
• Maintain sterilization methods and OSHA regulations.
• Assist training of new employees or trainees.
• Assist in inventory and ordering of dental supplies.
• Participate in Quality Improvement activities.

Skills

Reading and writing English

Communication skills

Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)

Reading dental terminology

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Formal Dental Assistant program

Washington State DOH registration

Tools

Dentrix

Allscripts PM

Job description

About Sea Mar Community Health Centers

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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization 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. Job Description 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
• Continuously 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 information.
• Provide patient education and instructions to patients before, after, and during any dental procedure.
• You are responsible for communicating provider delays and delays in patient flow to the Lead Dental Assistant, the Dental provider, the patients, and the front desk staff.
• Participate in scheduling appointments arriving, and departing patients in Dentrix and registering patient in Allscripts PM.
• Have the ability to complete thorough, accurate charting in Dentrix using S.O.A.P. or P.A.R.T.S. format.
• Obtain accurate blood pressure readings and other vital signs as directed by Dental Provider.
• Maintain proper sterilization methods and OSHA regulations in all clinic areas including treatment rooms and the sterilization areas.
• Perform the responsibilities outlined in the “Task & Duty List” (Dental Department Policy) or outlined by the supervisor or Regional Dental Manager.
• Participate in the training of new employee and/or dental trainees.
• Assist in doing inventory and the ordering of dental supplies.
• Participate in the Quality Improvement Activities of the Dental Department and of Sea Mar Community Health Centers (assigned by a lead dental assistant or the immediate supervisor).

The duties and responsibilities for this position may change with changes occurring in the clinic activities or requirements. The supervisor may assign temporary work in other departments or other dental sites.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

This person must sign an oath of permanent confidentiality covering all patient related information. This person must receive a background check from the Washington State Patrol. The new employee shall sign and date the job description to affirm the validity of the information herein, and to signify compliance with the conditions of employment.

Qualifications

• Operate in a manner that will prevent employees/patients exposure to communicable diseases through proper infection control.

LANGUAGE/ MATHEMATIC SKILLS

• Must be able to read and write in English.
• A Dental Assistant must have the ability to effectively communicate with patients and staff both verbally and in writing.
• Have the ability to read and interpret common written materials about dentistry.
• Must be able to communicate basic mathematical figures and amounts such as discounts, proportions, and percentages.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to define and problem solve, collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations and Medical Screening

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Dental Assistants must have completed a formal Dental Assistant program at a College, Technical Institute or equivalent.
• Employee with no formal training must have a minimum of 1 year work experience in a Dental Assistant position.
• Must be Registered with the Washington State Department of Health, and keep their registration updated annually. Failure to have a current Washington State Registration will result in disciplinary action, including suspension and up to Termination.
• This position must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire date and is required to maintain current BLS CPR throughout employment.
• Must have a TB test annually.

Additional Requirements

• Pre-hire and annual employee health screening required
• Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all time during the flu season.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee may be required to share work space with other employees. Adequate lighting and equipment are available to the employee. Use of ergonomic office furniture will be used when available and appropriate. Some traveling may be required.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands that must be met by a Dental Assistant are those required to successfully perform the essential functions of dental assisting in dentistry. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Requirements for performing the duties of this job as a dental assistant: The position regularly requires the physical demands to sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. Is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. Must be able to lift or move a child or object of an average weight (up to 50 lbs.). Vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distant, vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Hourly - Hourly Plan, 22.34 USD Hourly

Hourly - Hourly Plan, 22.34 USD Hourly

What We Offer

• Medical Dental Vision Prescription coverage Life Insurance Long Term Disability EAP (Employee Assistance Program) Paid-time-off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit our website to learn more about us at www.seamar.org.