Dental Assistant

Level I
- Unlicensed Dental Assistant – grade 6 ($32,552.00-$51,873.27)

Level II
- Licensed Dental Assistant – grade 7 ($36,441.00-$55,545.33)

(including Expanded Scope qualifications)

Level III
- Expanded Functions Dental Assistant – grade 8 ($40,809.00-$62,191.50)

Full Time

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is a federally recognized Tribe with its ancestral homeland located in Niobrara, NE. The Tribe does not have a reservation in the classic definition; rather, the Ponca Restoration Act defined its jurisdiction as a Service Delivery Area comprised of 15 counties throughout parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Within its Service Delivery Area, the Tribe offers a broad range of health, social, educational, and cultural services.

• Assists the dentist(s) chair side during procedures. Anticipates the dentist’s needs at each stage of the treatment procedure by passing instruments, medications, and materials.
• Actively participates in the treatment procedure by retracting tissue, tongue and cheek, keeping area of operation clear, and preventing build-up of saliva and oral debris in patient’s mouth by the use of suction tip.
• Completes tasks as assigned and directed by the dentist in a responsible and timely manner.
• Assists patient in completing medical history statements, reviews patient medical history, signs legal documents (i.e., chart notes and consent form). Records examination and treatment information as relayed by dentist.
• Applies rubber dams and places cotton rolls to isolated operative sites.
• Takes preliminary impressions for study models and modifies impressions trays as needed. Pours and trims models from impressions. Makes custom impression trays.
• Other lab work as assigned.
• Remains compliant with infection control protocol.
• Cleans, sharpens, sterilizes, and prepares all dental instruments.
• Orders supplies, maintains inventory, and handles equipment problems as needed.
• Cleans and maintains the dental equipment as needed on a regular basis.
• Instructs patient/parents in preventive dental care by demonstrating brushing and flossing techniques and the use of disclosing tablets. Explains the common causes of decay and its relationship to general diet.
• Ensures that the PTN Dental Clinic is compliant with Nebraska radiation regulations and appropriate logs are being maintained.
• Performs receptionist duties related to scheduling dental appointments, receiving patients, answering telephone and properly documenting the dental visit for proper billing etc.
• Takes radiographic images as directed by the dentist. Operates, maintains, and adjusts dental X-ray equipment and materials. Positions patient to achieve proper angles for dental radiographs, exposes intra- and extra-oral radiographs.
• Performs coronal polishing.
• Assists hygienists with recording probe depths, taking radiographs, polishing and seating patients as a routine part of the clinical day.
• Attention to detail, positive customer service, effective teamwork skills and proactive attitude.
• Other duties as assigned.

This position has no supervisory authority. The Supervisory Dentist has supervisory authority over this position in relation to personnel, clinical and departmental issues. When assisting chair side, the doctor working directly with the dental assistant will have supervisory oversight at that time.

The evaluation of work performance will be ongoing and will be carried out by the Supervisory Dentist with input from other providers in the dental clinic. It will include the specific duties and responsibilities of this position description plus employee attitude and general working behavior.

The position is located within a typical dental clinic setting. Occupational hazards include but are not limited to the following safety and infection control issues: radiological hazards involved with X-ray procedures, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases and bio-hazardous materials that may be transmitted through bodily fluids and cause risk in the treatment applied to the patient. Employee will sit, stand,…