Dental Assistant (EXP FUN) - Echo Cliffs Health Center

Navajo Preference Employment Act

In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act. Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY

The Dental Assistant (Expanded Function) performs a wide range of reversible intra-oral dental procedures under the direction of a dentist. Provides chair-side assistance, fully anticipating the dentist's need for various instruments, materials and services. Requires knowledge of dental anatomy, related oral anatomy, the technical methods and practices of dentistry, the functions of dental instruments and the materials to perform a wide variety of dental procedures.

Qualifications

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must have completed one (1) year of acceptable course work, preceptorship, or other formal training and/or work assignments specifically designed to provide the applicant with knowledge and skills required to perform expanded function procedures; if IHS trained prior to 2025, then both Basic and Advanced Restorative Expanded Functions certificates required, if IHS trained after 2024, then only the one new Restorative Expanded Functions certificate is required

Certification:

Must have current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by the American Heart Association for at least 90 days after start of employment and must be maintained during employment at TCRHCC

Examples of acceptable training:

• Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant (DA) program accredited by ADA's Commission on Accreditation that are directly related to the intra-oral procedures (also referred to as expanded function) that are to be performed in the position to be filled.
• S. Army Dental Therapy Assistant Training program.
• Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by IHS of the DHHS; and/or
• Other training comparable to the above in private or governmental hospitals, clinics, or schools that included formal classroom instruction and clinical training in the knowledge and skills required to perform intra-oral procedures.

Experience:

• Must have worked as a basic level Dental Assistant for at least 2 years
• Must be able to perform "four-handed dentistry"
• Must have worked continuously as a Dental Assistant for 3 years.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORT

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical:

This position requires long periods of sitting with frequent standing and reaching. Must be able to occasionally walk, drive, bend, climb, kneel, crouch, twist, and maintain balance. This position requires the ability to lift, push, and pull up to 10 pounds for prolonged times. Will also need to be able to lift to 24 pounds occasionally. Will need to be able to occasionally be able to push and pull up to 50 pounds. This position requires the ability of near vision, color vision, depth perception, seeing find details, and hearing normal speech for prolonged periods of time. Must also be able to have far vision, use a telephone, and hear overhead pages over a loudspeaker. The position requires the ability of prolonged hand manipulation of simple grasping. Must be able to utilize hand manipulation for frequently firm grasping and fine dexterity.

Environment:

Work in a well-lit clinical setting with strict infection control standards. Must wear gloves, masks, eyewear, and protective clothing to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases. May be exposed to infectious diseases, chemical agents, and loud noises for long periods. May frequently be exposed to dust, fumes, gases. May be occasionally exposed to extremes in temperature or humidity and hazardous or moving equipment.

Mental:

Performs several clinical support activities including chair-side assistance and radiographic work, which involves a variety of sequential steps and processes. In each case, the category of the specified tasks and consideration of readily verified factors determine what steps are to be taken. Incumbent must have the ability to concentrate, handle a high degree of flexibility, demonstrate high degree of patience; and work in areas that are close and crowded for prolonged periods. Must frequently cope with high levels of stress, make decisions under high pressure, and handle multiple priorities in stressful situations. Incumbent will occasionally need the ability to cope with anger/fear/hostility of others in a calm way, manage altercations, work alone; and adapt to shift work.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Customer service must be a priority
• Organizing and laying out instruments for dentist's use
• Meeting and greeting patients and seating them in the dental chair
• Restores teeth prepared by dentist with permanent and temporary fillings
• Supports dentist in endodontic treatments by applying rubber dam, removing temporary filling using low speed handpiece, and cleansing and drying operative field
• Takes preliminary impressions for study models, modifying impression tray as needed
• Retracts gingiva from tooth for final impression by placing and removing retraction cord
• Assists in surgical treatment by applying and removing periodontal and post-extraction dressings, and removing sutures
• Instruct patients in preventive dental care measures, general nutrition as related to dental health, the common causes of tooth decay, and the care of prosthodontic appliances
• Apply desensitizing agents, tissue conditioner and other topical agents prescribed by dentist to specified areas of the oral cavity
• Proficient in taking dental radiographs.
• Constructing and placing temporary crown and bridges
• Provide Oral hygiene and Post Op instructions to patients
• Will work with Electronic Health Record (EHR) programs including Dental Health Records.; training is provided
• Will provide training to new staff as instructed by supervisor
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops and review courses
• Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role
• Ensure Proper PPE is used at all times while on duty. Face surgical masks are to be worn in all hospital areas. Proper handwashing is required. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer. Social distancing will be practiced by the department.
• Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. Training will be provided.
• Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction.
• Perform other duties as assigned.