Dental Assistant III

Neighborhood Health Center is a non‑profit organization local to Portland, OR serving underserved patients in primary care, internal medicine, dental services and more. Our patient‑centered approach honors the unique needs and circumstances of each individual patient. NHC sees people, not problems, and recognizes that the time spent as a patient in a doctors office is only one factor in a person’s overall health.

Our leading edge, integrated clinical teams work in partnership with patients, their families, and the communities we serve to provide whole‑person care, prevention, and ongoing support.

Dental Assistant III

Dental

Dental Clinic Manager

On‑Site

Full‑Time, Non‑Exempt

Four 10‑hour days/week (closed on weekends)

Eligible

This position provides direct chairside support to Dentists and/or Hygienists in the delivery of dental care and service at Neighborhood Health Center. This position may help to direct the Dental Assistant I and II in the delivery of patient care and clinic duties.

• Provides patients and their families with instruction on oral hygiene, oral disease prevention and post‑operative instructions, including anticipated next steps and appointment information.
• Sets up operatories and portable unit equipment and ensures that instruments, supplies, and equipment are immediately available for patient care.
• Obtains and enters patient information into electronic dental record, including chief complaint, health history, medications, allergies, vitals, patient pain level.
• Provides direct clinical assistance to dentists and dental hygienists by performing 4‑handed dentistry, including passing instruments for operative and oral surgery procedures and mixing filling and medicinal materials.
• Performs expanded duty functions, including child and adult rubber cup oral prophylaxis.
• Places temporary restorative material in teeth under the direction and review of a dentist, placing and removing matrix retainers for alloy and composite restorations, removing temporary crowns and cleaning teeth in preparation for final cementation, and performing preliminary fitting of crowns.
• Takes oral impressions and pours models.
• When sealant certified, places pit and fissure sealants under the direction and review of Dentist or Dental Hygienist.
• Exposes x‑rays and ensures all x‑rays are suitable for diagnosis.
• Maintains proper infection control practices at all times, including the following areas: PPE, hand hygiene, handling and disposal of sharps and biohazard waste, instrument sterilization, and dental operatory disinfection.
• Communicates with Dentist of their daily schedule and patient information; communicate with dental team about schedule changes and informs providers of changes.
• Communicates expected wait times to patients, Dentists, and dental receptionist.
• Seats and positions patient in the operatory.
• Serves as anesthesia monitor for patients receiving care under nitrous oxide sedation.
• Assists in new employee training on specific tasks, as needed.
• Effectively cleans and/or sterilizes instruments and treatment rooms according to company policies and procedures and in accordance with State and Federal regulations for infection control.
• Charts findings and treatment plans under the Dentist’s or Dental Hygienist’s direction.
• Performs all duties necessary to support tele‑dentistry.
• Performs receptionist functions on an as needed basis.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance.
• Complies with NHC standardized workflows, protocols, HIPAA, OSHA, and safety guidelines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma, or equivalent, is required.
• Completion of Dental Assistant training is required.
• One‑year related experience and/or training required, or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• A valid and unencumbered Oregon EFDA (Expanded Function Dental Assistant) certificate is required.
• Sealant certification is required; NHC will provide in‑house training and certification for any Expanded Function Dental Assistants who are…