Pillar Health, A Division of Kenosha Community Health Center, Inc. is seeking for a dedicated and compassionate Seasonal Dental Assistant to join our Seal-a-Smile program, a school-based initiative providing essential dental care to students across Kenosha County. This seasonal position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children's oral health while working within a supportive and dynamic team environment.
Position Details:
- Duration: September through May (Based on school schedule and volume)
- Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
- Location: Various schools within Kenosha County.
If you are passionate about improving children's oral health and enjoy working in a school-based setting, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity. Join us in making a difference, one smile at a time!
Job Description
The Dental Assistant is to provide exceptional patient care by creating a patient service experience that is phenomenal for every patient visit or encounter. The primary responsibility of the clinical dental assistant is to assist the dentist with clinical procedures. This includes chair side assisting, x-rays, taking alginate impressions, and screening emergency patients. The assistant will be expected to assist in four-handed dental procedures including, but not limited to: initial exams, periodontal maintenance, amalgam and composite restorations, endodontics, oral surgery, crown and bridge fixed prosthodontics, and removable prosthodontics. The Seal-A-Smile assistant will work directly with the Seal-a-Smile Coordinator and carry out all responsibilities assigned by the School-Based Health Care Coordinators.
PRIMARY TASKS AND DUTIES
- Serve as Seal A Smile (SAS) Assistant
- Work closely with Seal a smile Coordinator
- Order supplies/maintain closet for SBHC program
- Set up/break down SBHC equipment
- Dental Assistant duties where needed
- Reports directly to and assists the Dental Clinical Staff (Back Office) Manager and any Staff Dentist
- Assist Dental Director on assigned clinical projects
- Responsible for checking in patient
- Chart oral condition as dictated by dentist
- Seat and dismiss patient
- Identify patient needs using appropriate forms of communication
- Explain postoperative and preoperative instructions to the patient
- Obtain, interpret, and evaluate personal, medical and dental histories
- Maintain patient records
- Demonstrate four-handed instrument transfer
- Apply topical anesthetic
- Prepare and assist with administration of local anesthesia
- Prepare mounting and articulation of study models
- Fabricate temporaries for crowns and bridges
- Prepare handpieces for laboratory and operatory use
- Demonstrate knowledge of rotary instruments
- Demonstrate clinical proficiency in selection and transfer of instruments in operative dentistry
- Prepare tray setups for specialty dental procedures
- Prepare for a medical emergency
- Demonstrate knowledge of all the specialties of dentistry and the procedures used
- Pour and trim cast/model
- Prepare and assist with composite resin restorations
- Prepare and assist with amalgam restorations
- Prepare and assist with varnish and fluoride applications
- Prepare and assist with minor oral surgery procedures
- Prepare and assist with alginate impressions
- Take digital x-rays
- Practice patient and operative safety measures for radiation
- Practice patient and operative safety measures for BBP and OSHA compliance
SECONDARY TASKS AND DUTIES
- Assist in training new clinical Dental Assistants
- Receive and stock all packages/items purchased and delivered to the dental clinic
- Conduct scanning of documents
- Track invoices/log dentures for patients
- Serve as a Spanish language translator
- Serve as a back-up for patient services
- Perform other related duties as required
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Maintain personal safety and hygiene according to CDC and OSHA guidelines
- Must adhere to CDS, OSHA guidelines
- Must dispose of waste and hazardous materials in compliance with OSHA regulations, EPA, FDA, NIOSH
- Maintain infection control of work area according to OSHA guidelines
- Must maintain proper infection control protocol of casts/models and prostheses when sending or accepting from the dental laboratory
- Must prescribe to and maintain MSDS guidelines
- Must maintain instruments, equipment and supplies in conditions that follow CDC and OSHA guidelines
- Troubleshoot computer charting problems, problems with x-ray and dental equipment/instruments
- Demonstrate excellence in computer skills and software knowledge
POSTION REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Graduate from an accredited Dental Assistant Training Program preferred. At least 1-3 years’ experience in a similar role. Ability to use computer software such as WORD and EXCEL to perform tasks. Prior experience with using an Electronic Health Record preferred.
Language Skills
Ability to read and comprehend instructions from your manager. Ability to effectively communicate with patients and employees from the organization. Ability to communicate in Spanish (oral and written) preferred.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. Sitting greater than 75% of the time. Walking and standing less than 25% of the time. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally bend and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The environment is very fast paced.
This position requires compliance with Health Center’s written standards, including its Compliance Program and Standards of Conduct and policies and procedures (“Written Standards”). Such compliance will be an element considered as part of Seal A Smile Program Assistant regular performance evaluation.
Ability to travel to all schools within the county.
WHAT WE OFFER
As a seasonal employee, you will be eligible to access our Employee Assistance Program, Pet Insurance, and Employee Savings and Discount Program.
Learn more about us at www.pillarhealthcare.org.
Kenosha Community Health Center and Pillar Health, a Division of Kenosha Community Health Center, are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status, or genetic information (including family medical history) or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
