Dental Assistant III

Neighborhood Health Center; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days PTO

9 paid holidays

Health/dental/vision insurance

401k with employer match

EAP and life insurance

Job summary

Neighborhood Health Center in Hillsboro, OR is seeking a Dental Assistant I to provide direct chairside support in a fast-paced dental clinic. The role includes assisting dentists and hygienists, preparing operatories, and ensuring infection control standards are met.

The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma, formal Dental Assistant training, and at least one year of related experience. BLS/CPR certification is required, with bilingual Spanish preferred and Epic EHR proficiency.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of Dental Assistant training required.
• One year of related experience and/or training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide chairside support to dentists, hygienists, and other assistants.
• Set up operatories and portable units for patient care.
• Enter patient information into the electronic dental record.
• Perform 4-handed dentistry and pass instruments as needed.
• Maintain infection control practices per policy and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate with dental team on schedule and patient information.

Skills

Spanish (preferred)

Communication skills

HIPAA compliance

Professionalism

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Dental Assistant training

One year related experience

Tools

Epic EHR

Job description

Job Details

• Level: Experienced
• Job Location: Tanasbourne Clinic - Hillsboro, OR 97124
• Position Type: Full Time
• Salary Range: $22.33 - $29.05 Hourly
• Job Shift: Day
• Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Who We Are

Neighborhood Health Center is a non-profit organization local to Portland, OR serving underserved patients in the areas of primary care, internal medicine, dental services and more. Our patient-centered approach to care honors the unique needs and circumstances of each individual patient. NHC sees people, not problems, and recognizes that the time spent as a patient in a doctors office is only one factor in a persons overall health. Our leading edge, integrated clinical teams work in partnership with patients, their families, and the communities we serve to provide whole-person care, prevention, and ongoing support.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate differences in the workplace and do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (sex), national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Why work with us?

• We are a non-profit organization, passionate about providing the underserved population with medical and dental services across the greater Portland area, committed to making a difference daily.
• We offer our employees a competitive compensation and benefits package which includes 20 days of PTO (based full time employment), 9 paid holidays, health/dental/vision insurance, quarterly wellness reimbursements, generous 401k retirement plan with employer match, employer paid disability insurance, EAP and life insurance.
• Our employees voted NHC a Top Workplace in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024!

Job Title

Dental Assistant I

Department

Dental

Reports To

Dental Clinic Manager

Work Type

On-Site

Classification

Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Schedule

Four 10-hour days/week (closed on weekends)

Language Differential

Eligible

SUMMARY

This position provides direct chairside support to Dentists, Hygienists and other Dental Assistants in the delivery of high-quality dental care and service at Neighborhood Health Center.

Essential Job Duties

• Provides patients and their families with instruction on oral hygiene, oral disease prevention and post-operative instructions, including anticipated next steps and appointment information.
• Sets up operatories and portable unit equipment and ensures that instruments, supplies, and equipment are immediately available for patient care.
• Obtains and enters patient information into electronic dental record, including chief complaint, health history, medications, allergies, vitals, patient pain level
• Provides direct clinical assistance to dentists and dental hygienists by performing 4-handed dentistry, including passing instruments for operative and oral surgery procedures and mixing filling and medicinal materials.
• Maintains proper infection control practices at all times, including the following areas: PPE, hand hygiene, handling and disposal of sharps and biohazard waste, instrument sterilization, and dental operatory disinfection.
• Communicates with Dentist of their daily schedule and patient information; communicate with dental team about schedule changes and informs providers of changes.
• Communicates expected wait times to patients, Dentists, and dental receptionist.
• Seats and positions patient in the operatory.
• Serves as anesthesia monitor for patients receiving care under nitrous oxide sedation.
• Assists in new employee training on specific tasks, as needed.
• Effectively cleans and/or sterilizes instruments and treatment rooms according to company policies and procedures and in accordance with State and Federal regulations for infection control.
• Charts findings and treatment plans under the Dentists or Dental Hygienists direction.
• Performs all duties necessary to support tele-dentistry.
• Performs receptionist functions on an as needed basis.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Complies with NHC standardized workflows, protocols, HIPAA, OSHA, and safety guidelines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Completion of Dental Assistant training is required.
• One-year related experience and/or training required; or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Certificates, Licenses & Registrations

• Current BLS for Healthcare Providers/CPR certification is required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Behaviors

• Ability to fluently speak, read, and write in Spanish highly preferred.
• Ability to communicate professionally both orally and in writing with a service-oriented approach, sometimes in stressful circumstances.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA policies.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to answer and utilize multiple line telephone.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to learn and adapt to changing information and/or policies and procedures.
• Must be able to display sensitivity to the population and patients served.
• Must be able to demonstrate a record of reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to learn and/or proficiently use Epic Electronic Health Record.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

• Full-time positions may be scheduled to work 40 hours per week, with 4/10 hours workdays.
• Working days and locations may be variable.
• Occasional weekend availability may be required.
• As a result of high patient volume, this position experiences stressors that come along with a fast-paced environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to toxic chemicals for infection control or blood borne pathogens and regularly handling contaminated sharp instruments.

Physical Demands

• Frequently lift, move, push, or pull objects/equipment/supplies weighing approximately 20-25 pounds up to 40-50 pounds; use full range of body motion; walk, stand, move, stoop, reach with hands and arms and bend; sit for extended periods of time.
• Frequently use sufficient manual dexterity in order to safely perform various skills and techniques or manipulate equipment; see minor details from a distance, and differentiate between colors, shades, brightness textures and depth; hear and understand language as well as communicate language with several parties.

Neighborhood Health Center Employment Offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks, background checks, drug screening for illegal substances, Tuberculosis, and any position specific credentialing or licensure requirements.