Dental Sterilization Technician

Multnomah County; Gresham (OR); On-site; USD 32,070 - 39,440; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-funded retirement savings

Health and dental insurance

Paid parental leave

Wellness programs

Work-life balance

Job summary

Multnomah County Health Department is seeking a Dental Sterilization Technician to prepare operatories and sterilize dental equipment, with potential movement between integrated clinics in Portland and Gresham. The role includes basic chairside assisting when needed and contributing to a respectful, diverse work environment.

Requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent and BLS CPR certification (or ability to obtain within 30 days).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Up to one year of experience acceptable.
• BLS CPR certification or ability to obtain within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Sterilize instruments before and after patient use.
• Disinfect operatories before and after use.
• Load/unload and operate ultrasonic cleaners, autoclaves and related equipment.
• Ensure rooms are stocked with inventory and equipment in good condition.
• Assist dentist or dental hygienist as needed and maintain equipment.
• Follow OSHA infection control and safety standards.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS CPR Certification or ability to obtain within 30 days

Job description

Pay Range: $23.28 - $28.63 Hourly

Department: Health Department

Job Type: Regular

Represented Exemption Status: United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

THIS WORK MATTERS!

This is an Open to fill recruitment; which means the job posting will close once we have hired our new team members.

Integrated Health Clinics Locations

• Mid County Clinic 12710 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97236
• East County, 600 NE 8th Street Gresham, 3rd floor, OR 97030
• Rockwood, 2020 SE 182nd Ave Portland, OR 97233
• Northeast Health Center, 5329 NE MLK Jr Blvd Portland, OR 97211
• Southeast Health Center, 3653 SE 34th Ave Portland, OR 97202

Please indicate which location you would like to work at on your resume or cover letter.

The Dental Sterilization Technician (aka “Sterile Tech”)

The Dental Sterilization Technician (aka “Sterile Tech”) assists in performance of high-quality, patient-centered clinical dentistry by preparing operatories and sterilizing or disinfecting clinical equipment, in addition to basic chairside dental assisting when appropriate. The position could require working in different locations and teams per Dental Program needs. Every employee is expected to help create a work culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse populations the Health Department serves in the office and in the community. Every employee shares the responsibility for promptly bringing to the County's attention conduct that interferes with providing a work environment free of illegal discrimination and harassment. Integrated Clinical Services provides quality health services for people who experience barriers to accessing care. The vision of Integrated Clinical Services is to provide services that are integrated and connected to support optimal health, reducing wait times and optimizing access. The Dental Program works with many community partners, targeting underserved populations in Multnomah County to ensure access to dental services including providing education, prevention and dental treatment.

Key Responsibilities

• Sterilize instruments before and after patient use.
• Disinfect operatories before and after use.
• Appropriately select/use correct cleaning method (manual or mechanical) and cleaning chemicals required for each item.
• Accurately load/unload and operate ultrasonic cleaners, autoclaves, etc. to ensure items are clean and safe for handling.
• Keep handpieces properly maintained.
• Ensure that vacuum lines, unit, chair, light, instruments, and tray set ups are thoroughly disinfected and properly sterilized at all times.
• Set up instrument trays and prepare materials for patients treated by the dentist or dental hygienist (may include seating a patient and performing rooming tasks and completing periodontal charting when needed).
• Ensure rooms are properly equipped and stocked with inventory and reorder when necessary.
• Perform regular maintenance of equipment throughout the dental office.
• Verify correct cycle parameters, ensure spore tests are done regularly and monitored.
• When called upon, assist the dentist or dental hygienist in layout of instruments and transfer of instruments utilizing approved dental assisting principles.
• Basic dental assisting skills will be taught on the job.
• Assist the operator in preparation and delivery of dental materials when requested.
• Assist dental hygienists with periodontal charting or other charting needs.
• Comply with State and Federal OSHA laws, infection control, safety standards in the dental office and operatory, including but not limited to: wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) barriers such as gloves, gowns, and eye-wear; disinfecting and sterilizing instruments and treatment areas; and disposing properly of contaminated or biohazardous waste/materials.
• Notify supervisor of equipment trouble/need to report an issue or any general safety concerns.
• Assists in inventory control ensuring product expiration dates are current, preparing supply orders and monitoring inventory levels.
• Customer Service Interacts with patients in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Proactively monitors client wait times and ensures patients are kept informed of schedule delays.
• Conducts phone follow-up and documentation for missed patient appointments.
• Acts as liaison with treatment staff and providers.
• Follows-up on client concerns and takes action or refers to appropriate sources.
• Conducts outreach calls and schedules patient appointments.
• Teamwork Encourages team unity through sharing information, working collaboratively, productive problem solving and putting team success first.
• Follows Downtime priorities and project lists.
• Follow through on assigned tasks.
• Provides break relief for co-workers.
• Help dental programs increase patient access and engagement by utilizing a variety of outreach strategies.
• Interacts with patients in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Follows-up on client concerns and takes action or refers to appropriate sources.
• Assists clinics in meeting quality annual metrics in various tasks including chairside assistance, charting, outreach and patient engagement.

Benefits

• employer-funded retirement savings
• health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents
• paid parental leave
• wellness programs
• a focus on work-life balance
• and much more

To Qualify

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED)

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
• Up to one (1) year of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position. (Equivalency 0-1 years of qualifying training and/or experience).
• BLS CPR Certification or ability to obtain certification within 30 days of hire.
• Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING & EVALUATION (REQUIRED)

Thank you for reviewing the following sections. For details about our selection process, please refer to the overview of the selection process page. The process may evolve without notice.

Additional Information

Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime.

Represented FLSA: Non-Exempt.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

As a Health Department employee, you will create a work culture of respect, trust, and understanding for the highly diverse populations the Health Department serves in the office and in the community.

Every employee shares the responsibility for promptly bringing to the County's attention conduct that interferes with providing a work environment free of illegal discrimination and harassment.

We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.

The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference.

Veterans’ Preference

Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act

We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process.

Job Profile

6293 - Health Assistant 1

Current Multnomah County employees must apply within Workday. We’re glad you are considering a career that gives back and supports the community. Working for Multnomah County means having the opportunity to make a real difference in the community, no matter what position you hold. We provide a wide array of essential services including health, community justice, roads, elections, libraries, jails, bridges, tax and assessment, marriage licenses, animal services, mental health and addiction services and more. Our organization’s top priority is to meet the many needs of our residents. Learn more about who we are, what we do, and why it matters.