Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant – Full Time – New London – $1,000 Sign‑On Bonus!

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Job Summary

Supports dentist in delivering primary dental care, prepares equipment and workplace for use, and contributes to a supportive atmosphere for dental patients. Uses chairside, four‑handed dentistry techniques. Responsible for providing assistance to the dentist during dental procedures and ensuring smooth operation of the dental office. The role is both clinical and administrative, providing patients with care as well as supporting the dental team in maintaining efficient workflows.

Role And Responsibilities

• Assisting during Procedures:
  Prepare patients and the treatment area, hand instruments to the dentist during procedures, and manage suction or other equipment to help ensure the smooth progress of treatments. Familiar with four‑handed dental assisting and managing good evacuation.
• Patient Care:
  Prepare, comfort and provide excellent customer service at all times. Provide post‑operative instructions and address patient questions or concerns. Ensure a calm and welcoming environment with focus on quality of care and teamwork.
• Sterilization and Infection Control:
  Sterilize dental instruments and equipment following safety and infection control protocols. Clean and disinfect treatment areas after procedures. Manage log books and strictly adhere to standard precautions and protocols as outlined.
• X‑Rays:
  Take quality dental radiographs (X‑rays) as directed by the dentist and ensure they are properly processed for review.
• Electronic Health Record:
  Understand how to navigate the electronic health record and follow dentist directions to enter and complete charting.
• Stock Management:
  Ensure the dental office is stocked with necessary supplies. Order and maintain inventory of dental materials.
• Patient
  
  Education:
  
  Instruct patients on proper oral hygiene and care routines. Provide guidance on post‑treatment care.

Qualifications and Preferred Skills

• High School Diploma (or equivalent)
• Graduate of accredited Dental Assisting School or two years dental experience in general dentistry
• Certified in Dental Radiology by Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)
• Certified in Infection Control and maintaining 1 hour of CE per state regulation
• Knowledge/interest/passion for providing care to diverse patient population
• Written and oral bilingual fluency in language spoken by our patient population (e.g., English/Spanish or English/Polish) strongly preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and listening) and a patient‑focused attitude
• Ability to work well under pressure and multitask in a fast‑paced environment
• Attention to detail and ability to follow protocols for infection control
• Strong organizational skills
• Complete required competencies/courses/in‑service training workshops as required by the organization in a timely manner
• Flexible to travel to other sites as needed, a team player, and communicates properly

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

Requires good manual dexterity and fine motor coordination; good vision; physical mobility and flexibility; good reflexes; light lifting required; potential exposure to blood‑borne pathogens through direct patient contact. Must follow OSHA standards and Universal Precautions at all times.

Work Schedule Demands

Work as scheduled, with some evening and weekend hours as needed. Flexible to travel to other sites as needed.

Organization Information

Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC), with offices in Connecticut, Colorado, and California, is one of the country’s most creative and dynamic providers of primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services, and a leader in practice‑based research, health professionals training, and use of innovative technologies to advance health and healthcare. CHC is designated as a federally qualified health center and a patient‑centered medical home by HRSA, the Joint Commission, and NCQA, respectively.

We deliver more than 600,000 patient visits per year from primary care hubs and community clinics across the state of CT, all connected by…