This position provides direct chairside support to Dentists and/or Hygienists in the delivery of dental care and service at Neighborhood Health Center. This position may help to direct the Dental Assistant I and II in the delivery of patient care and clinic duties.

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, and 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.
• Performs expanded duty functions, including child and adult rubber cup oral prophylaxis.
• Places temporary restorative material in teeth under the direction and review of a dentist, placing and removing matrix retainers for alloy and composite restorations, removing temporary crowns, and cleaning teeth in preparation for final cementation, and performing preliminary fitting of crowns.
• Takes oral impressions and pours models.
• When sealant certified, places pit and fissure sealants under the direction and review of a Dentist or Dental Hygienist.
• Exposes x-rays and ensures all x-rays are suitable for diagnosis.
• 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 the Dentist about their daily schedule and patient information; communicates with the dental team about schedule changes and informs providers of changes.
• Communicates expected wait times to patients, Dentists, and dental receptionists.
• Seats and positions the 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 Dentist’s or Dental Hygienist’s direction.
• Performs all duties necessary to support tele-dentistry.
• Performs receptionist functions on an as needed basis.

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

• A valid and unencumbered Oregon EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Assistant) certificate is required.
• Sealant certification is required; NHC will provide in-house training and certification for any Expanded Function Dental Assistants who are hired without the certification.
• Certification of Radiologic proficiency issued by the Oregon State Board of Dental Examiners is required.
• Current BLS for Healthcare Providers/CPR certification is required.

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