Part-Time Dental Assistant

State of Oregon; Woodburn (OR); On-site; USD 37,000 - 47,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Retirement Benefits (PERS/OPSRP)

Paid Time Off

Job summary

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is seeking a part-time Dental Assistant for the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn. You will work chairside with the dentist, delivering preventive and restorative care, education, and digital radiographs to youth aged 12–24 within a collaborative health services team.

Minimum qualifications include one year of chairside experience or EFDA certification, CPR, radiologic proficiency, and Oregon board certifications.

Qualifications

• One year of dental assisting experience, with chairside duties.
• EFDA certification and radiography proficiency required by Oregon boards.
• CPR at Healthcare Provider level.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentist chairside with examinations and procedures.
• Expose digital radiographs and follow ABO standards.
• Prepare operatories, sterilize instruments, and manage supplies.
• Provide oral hygiene instruction and fluoride treatments.
• Part-time position; prorated salary based on full-time hours.

Skills

Chairside assisting

Expanded functions

Digital radiographs

Education

Dental assisting program graduate

EFDA certification

CPR certification

Tools

Radiologic Proficiency

Job description

Initial Posting Date: 10/15/2026

Application Deadline: /

Agency: Oregon Youth Authority

Salary Range: $4,738.00 - $5,988.00

Position Type: Employee

Position Title: Part-Time Dental Assistant

Job Description: OREGON YOUTH AUTHORITY DENTAL ASSISTANT 2 Woodburn, Oregon - MACLAREN YOUTH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY CLINIC

Hourly Rate: $27.34 - $34.55 hourly non-PERS

Put your full expanded-function skill set to work where it helps change young lives.

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is seeking a Dental Assistant to join the dental clinic at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn. Working chairside with our dentist, you will deliver preventive, restorative, and oral health education services to youth ages 12 through 24 in OYA's care. You will regularly practice the expanded functions you trained for, from coronal polishing and temporary crowns to digital radiographs, in a focused clinic with a consistent patient population and a collaborative health services team. Just as important, you will help young people build healthy habits and confidence they carry with them when they return to their communities. OYA's culture of positive human development is grounded in integrity, professionalism, accountability, and respect, and we value the perspectives that people of all backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences bring to our work.

What you will do

• Assist the dentist chairside with examinations and restorative, surgical, and preventive procedures, and chart exam findings as relayed by the dentist.
• Position sensors and expose digital radiographs following Oregon Board of Dentistry standards.
• Perform expanded functions, including coronal polishing, placing and removing matrix bands, fabricating and recementing temporary crowns, taking preliminary impressions and bite registrations, removing sutures, and replacing orthodontic elastic ties.
• Provide oral hygiene instruction and fluoride treatments that help youth build lasting oral health habits.
• Prepare operatories, instruments, and materials; sterilize instruments; maintain daily instrument counts and sterilization logs; and keep the dentist informed of supply needs.
• This is a part-time position.
• The posted salary/pay range for this announcement is based on full-time hours; the salary will be prorated for part-time hours.

About OYA

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is a national leader in the juvenile justice field, pioneering the implementation of a positive human development framework for its work with staff and youth, and using data to match the right youth with the right services. We seek to foster cultural competence and pursue equitable solutions to support youth under our care. Our agency mission is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments. If you are looking to join a team that values individual and cultural differences and the opportunity to contribute in the success of youth reformation by enriching our workforce with diversity, OYA wants to hear from you! People of color, women and other members of historically underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply! For more information please visit www.oregon.gov/oya.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of support experience (six months of which must be chairside dental assisting experience); OR A graduate of a dental assisting program AND possession of a valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation card AND Certification for Radiologic Proficiency AND certification by the Dental Assisting National Board for expanded functions (EFDA).
• Special Qualifications Certification for Radiologic Proficiency from the Oregon State Board of Dentistry.
• Expanded Functions certified, EFDA, by the Oregon State Board of Dentistry.
• Must have and maintain a valid Healthcare Provider level CPR card.

Desired Attributes

Note: You do not need to have all of these qualities to be eligible for this position.

• Experience using electronic dental records or practice management software and digital radiography or imaging software.
• Experience performing Oregon expanded functions on patients in a clinical work setting, such as coronal polishing, placing and removing matrix bands, fabricating temporary crowns, and taking preliminary impressions.
• Experience applying infection control and sterilization monitoring procedures, including instrument processing, sterilization logs, and instrument counts.
• Experience providing dental care in a correctional, juvenile justice, community health, public health, school-based, hospital, residential, or other safety-net setting.
• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team (dentist, nursing, medical, and facility staff) to coordinate youth care. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Manages competing clinic priorities, such as chairside assisting, sterilization, and operatory setup, during a changing schedule while maintaining infection control. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Communicates with youth in a respectful, encouraging, trauma-informed way, including oral hygiene instruction adapted to each person. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Maintains professional boundaries, accuracy, and safety awareness in a secure setting. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Demonstrates commitment to equitable, culturally responsive care for youth of all backgrounds. (will be assessed at time of interview)

Open Until Filled

Part-Time: This is a part-time position that is scheduled to work up to 30 hours per week. Benefits will be prorated according to the number of hours worked. The posted salary/pay range for this announcement is based on full-time hours; the salary will be prorated for part-time hours. For a complete list of duties and responsibilities, please contact HR Recruitment at [e-mail]. This recruitment will remain open until filled. Our first application screening is scheduled for October 29, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. but we may close the announcement at any time after this date when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee that we will consider applications received after this screening date. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.

Pre-employment Checks

In keeping with our mission, OYA will conduct a criminal record check, per OAR 416 Division 800, a driving record background check and a vulnerable population abuse and neglect check. Information obtained about an individual is confidential. An individual who refuses to consent to a criminal records/background check shall be disqualified from consideration in the position for which you applied. All applicants are subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as fingerprint based on criminal records check, pre-employment drug screening and/or education verification as required for the position.

Visa Sponsorship

We do not offer Visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. OYA uses E-Verify to confirm that applicants are authorized to work in the United States. Oregon state government is a large organization by nearly any standard. With over 40,000 employees working all over the state, in small communities and large, we are proving that government can be innovative. We work as a team, challenging ourselves to be better, faster and more efficient with taxpayer dollars.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental plans for you and your family.
• Additional benefits include life insurance, short- and long-term disability, deferred compensation savings plans, and flexible spending accounts for health and childcare.
• Generous Paid Time Off: 11 holidays, 3 personal business days, monthly sick leave and vacation leave that increases with years of service.
• Retirement Benefits: Membership in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Wellness Resources: Support for work-life balance, health, and overall well-being.
• Career Development: Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• Commuting: Access to Get There - Oregon's carpool matching tool and trip planner.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Additional Information

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we are here to serve. OYA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be individualized based on merit, competence, performance, and business need. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law". The more diverse we are, the better our work will be. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation or for alternative format please contact OYA Recruitment at 971-345-1236. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.