Dental Assistant on-call

002 Sea Mar Community Health Center; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 27,552 - 34,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Prescription coverage

Life insurance

Long-term disability

EAP

Paid time off 24 days + 10 holidays

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Sea Mar Community Health Centers in Washington state seeks a Dental Assistant to support providers with chair-side care, using four-handed dentistry, and to help manage patient flow and charting in Dentrix. The role requires English proficiency, with bilingual English/Spanish preferred, and completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program.

You will train new staff, assist in scheduling, and uphold OSHA standards while delivering compassionate, patient-centered care in a diverse community.

Qualifications

• Read and write in English; ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff verbally and in writing.
• Formal Dental Assistant program completed.
• WA State DOH registration; current.
• BLS CPR within 90 days of hire and maintained.
• TB test annually and health screenings as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide chair-side assistance using four-handed dentistry for a full range of procedures.
• Identify and categorize age-specific needs of patients.
• Escort patients to and from treatment rooms and maintain professional conduct.
• Greet and assist patients, handling confidential information appropriately.
• Provide patient education before, after and during procedures.

Skills

English proficiency

Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred)

Communication

Arithmetic basics

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Formal Dental Assistant program

WA State DOH registration

CPR (BLS) within 90 days

TB test annually

Tools

Dentrix

Allscripts PM

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, sexual orientation, or the 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.

We are recruiting for the following position: Dental Assistant. 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 receive the training plan and calendar with all important dates and the outline of what material is to be covered. Expectations and training milestones are made clear at hire and throughout the first 60 days, including a competency test after 60 days to pass probation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Anticipate and provide to Dental Providers all necessary chair‑side assistance using four‑handed dentistry technique for procedures in 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 (infant, adolescent, geriatric).
• Escort each patient to and from the treatment room.
• Greet, seat, and depart patients, being courteous and professional at all times, and handling confidential information sensitively.
• Provide patient education and instructions before, after, and during any dental procedure.
• Communicate 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 and managing patient flow in Dentrix and registering patients in Allscripts PM.
• Complete thorough, accurate charting in Dentrix using SOAP or PARTS format.
• Obtain accurate blood pressure readings and other vital signs as directed by the Dental Provider.
• Maintain proper sterilization methods and OSHA regulations in all clinic areas, including treatment rooms and sterilization areas.
• Perform responsibilities outlined in the “Task & Duty List” (Dental Department Policy) or as directed by the supervisor or Regional Dental Manager.
• Participate in training new employees and/or dental trainees.
• Assist in inventory and ordering of dental supplies.
• Participate in Quality Improvement Activities of the Dental Department and of Sea Mar Community Health Centers.
• 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 and 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

• Read and write in English; ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff verbally and in writing.
• Basic mathematical skills for calculating discounts, proportions, and percentages.
• Idiomatic competency in reading common written materials about dentistry.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Reasoning ability: define and problem‑solve, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Education, Certificates, Licences, and Registrations

• High School Diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Completed a formal Dental Assistant program at a College, Technical Institute, or equivalent.
• Minimum one year work experience in a Dental Assistant position if no formal training.
• Registered with the Washington State Department of Health; registration must be kept current annually.
• Must obtain Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR within 90 days of hire date and maintain it throughout employment.
• Must pass a TB test annually.
• Required pre‑hire and annual employee health screening.
• Annual influenza vaccine required unless medical or religious exemption approved; exempt employees must wear a mask during flu season.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly sit, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk, and hear.
• Occasionally stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Lift or move a child or object up to 50lbs.
• Vision: close, distant, color, peripheral, depth perception, and adjust focus.

Compensation

Hourly – Hourly Plan, $22.34 USD.

Benefits

Full‑time employees working 30hours or more receive an excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage; life insurance; long‑term disability; EAP; paid‑time‑off starting at 24 days per year plus 10 paid holidays; 401(k)/retirement options; and the opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or the ability to pay for services. For more information, please visit our website at www.seamar.org.