Dental Assistant

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 dentists 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.

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must have completed 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, then both Basic and Advanced Restorative Expanded Functions certificates required

Certification:

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by the American Heart Association, If none must obtain within 90 days after start of employment and must be maintained during employment at TCRHCC

Examples of acceptable training:

1. Courses in a dental hygiene or dental assistant (DA) program accredited by ADAs 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;
2. U.S. Army Dental Therapy Assistant Training program;
3. Continuing education courses in expanded functions for dental assistants offered by IHS of the DHHS; and/or
4. Oher 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 5 years.

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers. All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Positive working relationships with others
• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Prior experience in a supervisory role/position
• Knowledge of and ability to recognize common dental disorders/conditions such as tooth decay and inflamed tissue
• Basic computer skills needed to complete required administrative tasks
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading, or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

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 times of 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 level 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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Customer service must be a priority
2. Organizing and laying out instruments for dentist's use
3. Meeting and greeting patients and seating them in the dental chair
4. Restores teeth prepared by dentist with permanent and temporary fillings
5. Supports dentist in endodontic treatments by applying rubber dam, removing temporary filling using low speed handpiece, and cleansing and drying operative field
6. Takes preliminary impressions for study models, modifying impression tray as needed
7. Retracts gingiva from tooth for final impression by placing and removing retraction cord
8. Assists in surgical treatment by applying and removing periodontal and post-extraction dressings, and removing sutures
9. Instructs 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
10. Applies desensitizing agents, tissue conditioner and other topical agents prescribed by dentist to specified areas of the oral cavity
11. Proficient in taking dental radiographs.
12. Constructing and placing temporary crown and bridges
13. Provide Oral hygiene and Post Op instructions to patients
14. Will work with Electronic Health Record (EHR) programs including Dental Health Records.; training is provided
15. Will provide training to new staff as instructed by supervisor
16. Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; review courses
17. Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role
18. Ensure Proper PPE is used at all times while on duty. Face surgical mask is 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 department.
19. Proper PPE is used inside assigned Clinics or Units. NIOSH- approved N95 Masks filtering face piece respirator or higher, if available, this includes eye or face shields, gloves, and isolation gowns.
20. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. Complete provided training.
21. Perform other duties as assigned.