Dental Assistant

Navajo Preference Employment Act

In accordance with Navajo Nation and federal law, TCRHCC has implemented an Affirmative Action Plan pursuant to the Navajo Preference in Employment Act. Pursuant to this Plan and corresponding TCRHCC Policy, applicants who meet the necessary qualifications for this position and (1) are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe will be given preference in hiring and employment for this position, (2) are legally married to enrolled members of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, or San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe and meet residency requirements will be given secondary preference, and (3) are enrolled members of other federally-recognized American Indian Tribes will be given tertiary preference.

POSITION SUMMARY

The primary function of a dental assistant (DA) is to perform chair-side assistance in all areas of dentistry such as, restorative, prosthodontics, surgery, endodontics, and periodontics for both routine and emergent care. Dental Assistants will greet and seat patients, take radiographs, set-up instruments for procedures, clean/disinfect operatories, use proper infection control protocol at all times. DA’s are also involved with community programs such as the School-based Sealant & Fluoride Varnish Program.

DA’s will rotate through all clinics within the TCRHCC Dental Program. DA’s are required to work with the Electronic Dental Record (EDR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR). Customer Service is a priority for all dental staff.

Education:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must have completed a Dental Assistant Training Course in a program of 13 weeks or greater in duration; EXCEPTION due to Pandemic:
  If no Dental Assistant Training Course has been completed, then candidate can be considered if one has worked as a Dental Assistant for 1 year within the past 3 years

Certification:

• Applicant must have active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by the American Heart Association. (BLS certification must be maintained during employment at TCRHCC)

Experience:

• Must have experience with chair-side assistance as part of Dental Assisting (DA) Training program and be able to demonstrate knowledge of dental instruments and experience with rubber-dam isolation.
• Must have worked:
  • As a DA continuously for 1 year within the past 5 years or as a volunteer DA for 2 months if the date of graduation from DA training is 5 yrs or more from the date of application for employment OR
  • As a DA or volunteer DA if the date of graduation from DA training is 0-5 yrs from the date of application for employment.
  • Exceptions due to Pandemic:
    • if the date of graduation from DA training is within the past 2 year, then experience is not required
    • if no DA training course completed, then must have worked for 1 year as a DA within the past 3 years

Other

Skills and Abilities:

• A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers. All employment references must indicate success in each of the following areas:
• Positive working relationships with others
• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Knowledge of dental instruments, basic dental anatomy and operation of dental x-ray equipment
• Must be proficient in dental charting for treatment planning purposes
• Must be proficient in “four-handed dentistry”
• Basic computer skills needed to complete required administrative tasks
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can…