Dental Assistant I

Salary for this Position: $18.00 - $22.00/Hour
*All Pay Rates are subject to Experience, License or Certification and Location*

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center is one of the largest community health centers in Massachusetts serving Worcester, Framingham, Milford and the surrounding communities. We are a thriving and growing organization, and our team is expanding across sites to support this growth.

We are currently hiring a Dental Assistant based in Worcester MA. The Dental Assistant will assist and collaborate with the Dentist in the delivery of dental care using aseptic techniques and following standards of infection control. As part of the team-based approach to care, the Dental Assistant I will participate in coordinating care for individual patients, will support patients and families in self-management, will engage in health center projects that are aimed at specific patient population needs, and will utilize effective and appropriate communication strategies, such as health literacy approaches when working with patients.

As an employer of choice, our inclusive workplace environment fosters teamwork, accountability and respect and supports the growth and development of each employee. We are an equal opportunity employer and embrace the richness of the diversity of our staff and community. You are a good fit for our team if you’re passionate about helping people live healthier lives and enjoy working in a supportive, team-based environment.

Essential Functions

• Verifies patient markers to determine that the correct patient is present for the dental appointment/procedure
• Adequately exposes and processes radiographs, ensuring diagnostic quality
• Adequately prepares the dental treatment room prior to each procedure, with full compliance in infection control protocols and guidelines
• Processes instruments, including disinfection, sterilization, and monitoring of sterilization dates. Maintains proper care of dental equipment according to manufacturer’s guidelines, and performs maintenance according to schedules set up by the Dental Department
• Conducts spore testing and documents to insure proper autoclave function and sterilization of instruments
• Maintains the log/schedule for dental office equipment maintenance according to the protocols set up in the Dental Department, and participates in the timely maintenance of this equipment on a daily, weekly, or biweekly schedule depending on the parameters set up by the department
• Demonstrates competency in four handed dentistry
• Maintains inventory supply control, tracking supply usage and recording low levels of supplies, and communicating this inventory with the Purchasing Coordinator
• Maintains confidentiality with patient information, complying with Health Center policies, HIPPA regulations, and Joint Commission standards
• Ensures proper documentation, including, but not limited to, consents and medical histories, is presented to the patient by procedure and subsequently processes these documents by scanning them into the dental record
• Records vital signs on all first time visits and before other procedures outlined by the Dental Department
• Demonstrates competency in performing minor laboratory procedures such as taking initial impressions and pouring up stone models
• Responsible for tracking lab cases; inputting departure and arrival dates, and logging other pertinent information that supports compliance to department protocols

Education and Experience

• MA state dental assistant license
• CPR/BLS
• Radiology certificate
• OSHA/Infection control training
• Has met all continuing education requirements for dental licensure.
• Our health center requires all employees to have the most recent COVID-19 booster and the yearly flu vaccine.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on related experience
• Medical insurance starts on first day of employment.
  • Health center pays 80% of medical insurance premiums.
  • Includes coverage for all individuals and most family types.
• Generous time off packages
• Dental and Vision insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program