Dental Assistant - Rainier Beach (1.0 FTE)

About the Role

This position is a split position between Neighborcare's Pacific Tower and Georgetown dental clinics. The Dental Assistant provides chair side support to the Dentist and/or Dental Hygienist for scheduled procedures and is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of dental instruments and equipment needed for patient treatment.

Responsibilities

Direct Patient Care

• Provide chair side assistance by preparing operatory, including cleaning, disinfection, setting up instruments, materials, and appropriate anesthetic for scheduled procedures (e.g., restorative work, surgical extractions, basic endodontics, scaling and root planning, pediatrics, and removable prosthodontics).
• Interview patient to determine reason for visit and collect patient's vital signs (e.g., blood pressure).
• Place sealants, perform fluoride treatments, coronal polish, and oral hygiene instruction.
• Take digital x-rays, intraoral photos, and digital scans.
• Take and pour impressions.
• Fabricate provisional crowns.
• Mix materials, place rubber dams, matrices, and wedges.
• Properly pass instruments while maintaining proper aseptic techniques and appropriate safety standards.
• Anticipate and appropriately respond to patient's needs under dentist's supervision.

Indirect Patient Care

• Perform duties and responsibilities with excellence, enthusiasm, and a strong service orientation, demonstrating courteous behaviors and anticipating dental provider's needs.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance as assigned by supervisor and/or Lead.
• Review patient charts prior to patient treatment.
• Prepare the clinic for the next day's work schedule and patient appointments.
• Communicate with dental provider(s) about daily schedules to optimize patient experience.
• Participate in team huddles, providing patient-by-patient insights, and help anticipate patient needs and/or care gaps.
• Schedule appointments for patients in the EHR, as needed.
• Call patients regarding care needs and document accurately and appropriately in EDR, as directed.
• Participate in back-office dental meetings, huddles, and staff meetings.
• Maintain ethical standards and timely reporting of safety events.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• A current Washington State Dept. of Health Dental Assistant license.
• BLS Certification.
• Minimum of 280 hours chairside dental assisting experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program.
• 1 year of dental assisting experience.

Skills

Required Skills

• Ability to work in a fast-paced and complex health care environment.
• Ability to meet and comply with HIPAA/Confidentiality policies and procedures and handle confidential and sensitive patient and staff information.
• Knowledge and adherence to asepsis, universal precautions, and sterilization processes.
• Knowledge and understanding of dental terminology, instruments, and dental procedures.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals of varying ethnicities, socio-economic levels, cultures, and sexual orientations.
• Demonstrates the ability to conduct discussions of a sensitive nature with staff and patients.
• Ability to build relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to develop collaborative working relationships that foster a positive working environment with an emphasis on teamwork.
• Effective time management skills.

Preferred Skills

• Proficient with computers and the use of email and electronic medical and dental records.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Retirement with contribution match.
• Life & AD&D insurance, pet insurance.
• Employee assistance program, and more.

Pay

The target wage range for the position is $27.08 per hour to $34.04 per hour. Final offers are individually based on various factors, including skill set, years of experience, location, qualifications, work schedule, and other job-related reasons.

About Neighborcare Health

Since 1968, Neighborcare Health has been removing barriers to health care for our neighbors. We believe everyone deserves a place to call their health care home, where a team of medical, dental, and mental health professionals work in collaboration with each patient to develop a personal health improvement plan. We are one of the largest providers of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care services in the Seattle area, serving low-income and uninsured families and individuals, seniors on fixed incomes, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness. Each year we care for nearly 60,000 patients at our nearly 30 non-profit medical, dental, and school-based clinics. We ask everyone to pay what they can, but no one is turned away due to inability to pay. Our clinics are located in neighborhoods where health disparities are the greatest, and our care teams, who speak over 55 languages and dialects, are as diverse as our patients.