Dental Assistant; Expanded Function Advance

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities:
Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Responsible for providing hands‑on assistance and support to Dentists and completing preparation work to care for patients efficiently. Sterilizing and organizing dental tools and assisting during dental procedures.

This position is located within the TONHC. The position may be organizationally located and duty stationed at any one of the Hospital/clinic facilities located in Sells, Arizona, Santa Rosa, Arizona, San Simon, Arizona, or Tucson, Arizona. The Dentist provides assignments, and completed work is reviewed in detail for accuracy and adherence to instructions and procedures.

• Provide chairside assistance to the Dentist in all phases of dental treatment in general dentistry.
• Responsible for greeting patients and scheduling appointments; maintenance and record‑keeping responsibilities.
• Records information related to the medical history of the patient.
• Chart examination and treatment information as relayed by the Dentist.
• Sterilizes instruments, materials, and equipment and prepares surgical trays.
• Maintain dental equipment in a clean and operative condition.
• Prepares and arranges all instruments and materials needed for each treatment; prepares the patient and operatory.
• Remove all supragingival traces of tartar, deposits, accretion, and stains from the teeth with hand and mechanized instruments.
• Take preliminary impressions for study models and modifies impression trays as needed.
• To pour and trim models from impressions; constructs custom impression trays, base plate, and bite rims.
• Constructs custom impression trays, fabricates base plates and bite rims, makes temporary bridges and crowns.
• As directed by the Dentist, removes sutures, applies topical anesthesia, desensitizing agents, medications, and surgical gauze following extractions, and applies and removes periodontal dressing or other sedative dressings.
• Restore teeth prepared by the Dentist; places cavity bases and liners on prepared tooth; and do other restorative work.
• Instructs patient in an age‑appropriate manner on preventative dental care; explains the common causes of decay and its relationship to general diet.
• Records information relayed by the Dentist on prescriptions, laboratory work orders, and other forms for the Dentist's signature; relays to patient Dentist's instructions for post‑treatment care.
• Operates dental radiographic equipment to take intra and extra‑oral radiographs; develops and mounts films.
• Present educational, preventative oral health talks, demonstrations, and visual aids to patients, hospital staff, and community members.
• Maintain a variety of recurring reports related to dental activities.
• Contributes to a team effort and performs other job‑related duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgical, endodontic, and periodontal treatment provided in general Dentistry.
• Knowledge of dental anatomy and bony structures of the head and neck, to take diagnostic radiographs.
• Knowledge or ability to recognize common dental disorders and conditions such as inflamed tissue and tooth decay and perform intra‑oral procedures that treat these conditions.
• Knowledge of principles of laboratory technique sufficient to perform required laboratory procedures.
• Knowledge and skill in efficient clinic scheduling, typing, supply ordering, and data gathering.
• Skill in operation and adjustment of dental radiographic equipment.
• Knowledge of the use, care, and storage of dental equipment, materials, and instruments.
• Knowledge of sterilization techniques.
• Knowledge of procedures used in the dental clinic for receiving, routing, and scheduling patients and dismissing patients.
• Sufficient knowledge of preventive dentistry measures to…