Dental Assistant

Job Summary:

This position is located in San Felipe Pueblo between Albuquerque and Santa Fe serving a community of approximately 3500.

Primary objective is to provide direct patient services at the school clinic located on site at the San Felipe Elementary School, Head Start, and other community locations to ensure essential dental and medical services are provided to the school age population of the Pueblo of San Felipe. The incumbent will assist and work closely with the School Clinic Dental Hygienist in dental procedures. The incumbent will be a member of the health care team, which is dedicated to ensuring health care service access to all tribal members. This is a community-based position that focuses on assisting the providers and clinicians of the school-based health center clinic to promote wellness and increase community knowledge of disease prevention. Incumbent will be responsible for supporting providers and patients through a variety of tasks related to dental and medical patient care management, organization, and communication.

Dental Essential Duties: 

• Performs all routine and advanced chair side dental assisting functions under the direction of the School Clinic Coordinator in accordance with the Pueblo of San Felipe Tribal Administration, New Mexico Dental Board and the Indian Health Service contract.
• Under direct supervision of the Collaborative Dental Hygienist: applies agents, dental sealants, and performs coronal polishing. 
• Under direction of the School Clinic Coordinator: orders necessary supplies and keeps dental/medical clinic/operatory properly stocked at all times, ensures clinic/operatory area are clean and in operative condition. Properly sterilizes instruments and complies with OSHA and IHS standards.  Takes intra and extra-oral radiographs. 
• Under direction of the School Clinic Coordinator: coordinates equipment maintenance for San Felipe School Health Clinic and Head Start Program.
• Performs all and any dental services with which employee was trained and licensed to perform under the New Mexico Dental Board and Indian Health Service contract.
• Patient education regarding treatment plan and services that are diagnosed by the examining Dentist.
• Provides patients and parents with instructions for oral care following any dental treatment procedures.
• Utilizes Dentrix & medical software to create new patient charts, make appointments, and to update patient information as needed.
• Answer incoming phone calls and makes appropriate dental appointments for patients.

Clinic Essential Duties:

• Assist school-based health center clinic with answering phones, calling patients, faxing forms, answering patient questions, and any other office duties as needed.
• Make and update patient charts, files paperwork, and informs licensed staff of calls that require follow up with patients.
• Greet patients and confidentially check them in for appointments with their scheduled provider as well as obtaining signatures on required forms and consents.
• When necessary, rotate and fill in for school health assistants in front desk, back office, and third assistant duties that appropriately fall in scope of practice.
• Address patients, visitors, and co-workers in a pleasant and respectful manner; displays courtesy at all times.
• Maintain health office organization, order supplies, and make copies as needed. 
• Take patient medical histories, documentation of history, relaying pertinent information to provider.
• Obtain patient vital signs appropriately as trained and providing data to provider for further follow up.
• Prepare exam and treatment room with necessary equipment as well as prepare patients for examination and treatment procedures.
• Assist provider during examinations and procedures to include completing tasks as delegated within scope of practice.
• Provide patient education instructions and handouts as instructed by provider.
• Communicate with medical, dental and behavioral health care providers regarding student health needs.
• Contact parents when a treatment consent is necessary but not on file and ensuring a witness is able to co-sign telephone consents as needed at the school-based health center clinic.  
• Review all paperwork submitted by patients for completion and signatures before submitting to providers.
• Provide patients with updated consent forms, required documents for appointment completion, and any necessary forms for services provided for the patient visit. 
• Contact families of patients in need of medical appointments, dental appointments, and immunizations and scheduling the needed services.
• Document patient visits appropriately on printed and electronic forms per education and certification scope of practice.
• Onsite when Child Find, Registration, and Immunization events are occurring to ensure accuracy with data, consents are completed, education information is provided to families, and assistance with smooth flow of events. These events may take place at clinics, schools, and community settings.
• Assist providers with health education classes including planning, set up, interpretation of health and wellness information, clean up, and program evaluation. 
• Assist providers with maintaining health programs that are culturally appropriate and align with the community values, customs, and traditions. 
• Complete medical, dental, or behavioral health continuing education annually to ensure awareness of current health care trends to help support best practices in providing services.
• Per the school-based health center clinic cleaning guidelines, complete required cleaning and disinfecting processes to ensure compliance with infection control.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required.

Education: HS Diploma or equivalent preferred. Successful completion of a dental assisting education program that meets or exceeds credentialing standards.

Experience/Basic Knowledge: Prefer one (1) year of dental assisting experience.

Required Licenses/Certifications:  

• Valid driver’s license 
• Currently Certified Dental Assistant in New Mexico or National Dental Assistant Certification (DANB) (Renewed as necessary to stay current)
•  New Mexico Radiology Certification (Renewed as necessary to stay current)
• Current CPR Certificate and renewed every two (2) years to stay current
• OSHA, Blood borne Pathogens course completion certificate and HIPPA course completion certificate (must be obtained within 30 days of hire and completed annually thereafter)

Preferences: San Felipe Preference, AI/ NA, and/or Veteran’s Preference.