Lead Dental Assistant

Neighborhood Health Center

Neighborhood Health Center is a non‑profit organization located in Portland, OR serving underserved patients in primary care, internal medicine, dental services and more. Our patient‑centered approach honors the unique needs of each patient and partners with communities to provide whole‑person care, prevention and ongoing support.

• We are a non‑profit organization passionate about providing underserved populations with medical and dental services across the greater Portland area.
• We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including 20 days PTO, 9 paid holidays, health/dental/vision insurance, quarterly wellness reimbursements, generous 401k with employer match, employer paid disability insurance, EAP and life insurance.
• Our employees voted NHC a Top Workplace every year from 2020‑2024.

Department: Dental |
Reports To: Dental Clinic Manager |
Work Type: On‑Site |
Classification: Full‑Time, Non‑Exempt |
Language Differential: Eligible

Under the direction of the Dental Clinic Manager, the Lead Dental Assistant will oversee and coordinate day‑to‑day dental clinic activities, staff and operations. The position provides direct chairside support to dentists and/or hygienists, at least 50% of the time.

• Monitors daily clinical workflow of front and back‑office team.
• Trains newly hired dental assistants and front desk staff on workflows.
• Orders and tracks inventory for all dental supplies for assigned clinic.
• Monitors OSHA compliance and safety data sheets for assigned clinic, bringing any safety issues to attention of the Dental Clinic Manager.
• Supports the Dental Clinic Manager in handling staffing levels, adjusting the coverage as needed.
• Works with staff members to address employee relation concerns with a problem‑solving approach, escalating any major or ongoing circumstances to the Dental Clinic Manager.
• Monitors all equipment and emergency supplies, informing Dental Clinic Manager when maintenance is needed.
• Research patient questions regarding billing, as needed.
• Collaborates with other clinic leads as needed.
• 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.
• 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.
• Takes oral impressions and pours models.
• 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; communicates 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…