Dental Assistant, On Call, SBHC

Job DetailsJob Location: School Based Health Centers - Oakland, CA 94601Position Type: On-CallEducation Level: High SchoolSalary Range: $26.29 - $31.00 HourlyTravel Percentage: Up to 25%Job Shift: DayJob Category: Health CarePOSITION: On-Call Dental Assistant, SBHC
DEPARTMENT: School-Based Health Center Department (SBHC)
REPORTS TO: Lead General Dentist- SBHC
LOCATION: Native American Health Center, Inc. (NAHC) School-Based Health Center Sites in Oakland/San Leandro
WORK HOURS: On-Call
STATUS: Non-Exempt, Non-Union
 
POSITION SUMMARY
The SBHC Department partners with three school districts to provide comprehensive health services at seven SBHCs. The SBHCs reduce health inequities by focusing on prevention and youth empowerment. The Dental Assistant (DA) is a key member of the Native American Health Center’s four-handed dental process, and will increase dentists’ efficiency by providing needed support. The primary responsibility of the DA is to assist dentists at chair-side, and to support departmental staff. The DA must be professional, objective, and have superior customer service standards.
The DA must wear scrub tops and bottoms and personal protective equipment such as protective eyewear, masks and gloves and follow specific company and OSHA procedures when handling hazardous materials. Long hair must be tied back away from the face and no jewelry may be worn. Employees who provide direct clinical care should refrain from having facial, oral and intra-oral piercings. For safety reasons employees must not have hoop earrings larger than 1” in diameter or that dangle longer than 1”. Cleanliness above all is essential. Such employees must refrain from having artificial nails, painted nails and natural nails longer than ¼ inch beyond the tip of the finger. Punctuality and professional demeanor at all times is required.
The Native American Health Center is an accredited institution and adheres to the standards of excellence set forth by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform all duties with excellence and in accordance with the Dental Practice Act of California.
1. Provide support to dentists. This includes following all instructions from the assigned dentist at chair-side.
2. Greet all members in a courteous, professional, and timely manner.
3. Ability to work in the General and Pediatric Dental Clinics.
4. Explain plaque control to all members in a manner that ensures their understanding.
5. In collaboration with the dentists, provide oral hygiene instructions to members and parents/caregivers.
6. Apply topical anesthetic as requested by the assigned dentist.
7. Check members; vital signs (i.e., blood pressure, temperature, etc.) as necessary and/or requested by the assigned dentist.
8. Prepare operatory for member reception, according to departmental policy. Ensure operatory is as aseptic as possible for member welfare.
9. Ensure pre-set trays are well maintained, and always ready to be used for procedures.
10. Proactively review chart notes for the planned treatment, in order to set up trays and operatory appropriately.
11. Ensure all materials and instruments needed for providing treatment are ready and available for use.
12. Prepare anesthesia for transfer to the assigned dentist.
13. Retract oral tissues in order to increase visual access into the oral cavity.
14. Remove excess moisture from the mouth by using hi-vac systems and/or air.
15. Properly transfer instruments to dentists while maintaining extremely high attention to detail and adhering to sterilization standards.
16. Prepare and properly deliver any required restorative materials to dentists. Obtain Informed Consent prior to dental treatment, and deliver post-operative instructions with guidance from assigned dentist.
17. Assist clinical staff in optimizing member flow. This will include restocking items, seating members, ‘floating’, and supporting other dental team members with member care.
18. Keep work area well organized, stocked, and clean at all times. This includes supporting on-site staff with monthly inventory.
19. Keep uninvolved people out of the operatories at all times.
20. Take impressions for diagnostic and opposing study models.
21. Pour impressions with proper stone, package them for transport to dental laboratory, and forward to the receptionist.
22. Operate digital dental radiographic equipment for the purpose of oral radiography.
23. Proactively inform supervisor of any supplies that need to be replenished, so a consistent level of supplies is maintained at all times.
24. Assist the assigned dentist with referrals, prescription phone-ins, and other processes involved in providing high quality dental care.
25. DA, as deemed necessary and requested by supervisor.
26. Perform Sterilization duties in both the Dental and Pediatric Dental Clinics by performing sterilization and maintenance procedure according to depar