Certified Dental Assistant

About the role

The Certified Dental Assistant will provide full-service chairside, clinical, radiographic, infection-control, administrative, and patient-support services for the inmate population at FCC Hazelton. The position supports restorative dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, prosthetics, treatment preparation, dental imaging, equipment and instrument maintenance, supply control, electronic health-record documentation, and safe patient flow within a secure correctional environment. Services may be provided within the USP, FCI, Secure Female Facility, and Satellite Prison Camp dental clinics.

Pay

Estimated total compensation: $28.05 per hour.

Schedule

Normally Monday through Friday between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM, excluding federal holidays. The weekly schedule generally consists of five 8-hour days or four 10-hour days, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch. Individual schedules may be adjusted to meet institutional needs and may not exceed 40 hours per week. Work is on-site; remote work is not authorized for clinical services.

Responsibilities

• Provide full-service dental assistance across restorative dentistry, oral surgery, periodontics, prosthetics, and other assigned areas of dental practice.
• Prepare treatment areas, instruments, materials, medications, and equipment for dental procedures.
• Pass instruments safely and efficiently, maintain a clear operative field through irrigation and aspiration, and retract oral tissues effectively and comfortably.
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials according to manufacturer instructions; place and finish restorations, including bases and liners, within the authorized scope of duties.
• Make primary impressions, pour casts, assist with tooth-shade selection, and repair dental prostheses and appliances under appropriate supervision.
• Take bitewing, periapical, occlusal, panoramic, cephalometric, and other authorized radiographs using proper patient positioning and radiation-safety procedures.
• Process radiographs, perform scheduled radiographic quality-assurance testing, and document results accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Follow established infection-control procedures and clean, sterilize, sharpen, maintain, and properly secure dental instruments and equipment.
• Report defective equipment and low supply levels promptly and help maintain adequate supplies in assigned rooms and operatories.
• Receive patients, explain procedures to reduce anxiety, assist with patient dismissal, and help ensure follow-up instructions are understood.
• Complete timely electronic health-record documentation and assist with audits, record reviews, clerical work, reports, and institution-specific systems such as SENTRY.
• Contain and dispose of hazardous biological waste in accordance with all applicable laws, policies, and local procedures.
• Follow BOP Health Services policies, clinical-practice guidelines, institutional directives, safety requirements, security procedures, sign-in and sign-out rules, and badge requirements.
• Maintain professional relationships and boundaries with inmates, promptly report rule violations or security concerns, and avoid assuming inmate-management or BOP staff-supervision duties.

Qualifications

Mandatory

• At least six months of relevant dental-assisting experience; successful completion of a one-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation; or an equivalent combination of qualifying education and experience.
• Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification through the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required DOJ/BOP security, suitability, background, identity, orientation, health, and institutional-access approvals (Public Trust suitability, Tier 1 investigation or applicable screening, fingerprinting, identity verification, institutional clearance, orientation, badging).
• Free of communicable diseases; able to provide tuberculosis or other occupational-health testing or immunity documentation when required.
• Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including walking, bending, and standing for periods of two to three hours.
• Must maintain professional conduct, confidentiality, patient privacy, and appropriate boundaries with inmates at all times.

Preferred

• Experience providing healthcare services in a correctional setting.
• Completion of a dental radiologic safety program or educational course.
• Additional professional education, dental-assisting credentials, or related certifications.

Requirements

• Current resume documenting qualifying dental-assisting education and experience.
• Copies of applicable diplomas, training certificates, licenses, and professional credentials supporting the minimum qualifications.
• Copy of current American Heart Association or American Red Cross CPR certification.
• Certificate of liability insurance or other insurance documentation requested for the proposal or onboarding process.
• Any identification, citizenship or residency, fingerprinting, background, security, occupational-health, tuberculosis-testing, privacy, orientation, or onboarding documents requested by Fidelity Partners or the Government/client.

Location & employment details

Work location: Federal Correctional Complex Hazelton, 1640 Sky View Drive, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525. Six full-time positions. Period of performance: one 12-month base period followed by four successive 12-month option periods (up to five years if all options exercised). No routine travel anticipated. No classified clearance specified; employment contingent on DOJ/BOP Public Trust suitability and facility-access requirements. Customer: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons.