Dental Assistant - Intern (48094)

Under general supervision/guidance/instruction of the Lead Dental Assistants and/or Deputy Chief, this position is for the Dental Assistant Intern. The purpose of this position is to support the Dental Team by having a transitionary position to allow for on-the-job training for an individual without previous dental assisting experience or training. Upholds the principles of WIHCC’s Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information at all times.

This position allows the Dental Team to have an avenue to hire and train dental assistants in order to better serve the WIHCC dental patient population. The hope is that this individual will transfer to a full-time dental assistant position.

This position is located at the Winslow Indian Health Care Center, Inc. Dental Program and the position requires the Dental Assistant Intern to travel satellite clinics: Leupp, Dilkon, and Mobile Van.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

The intern will learn dental assistant duties at chair side while the Dentist performs a full range of professional dental treatment of commonly encountered dental disease or dental health problems requiring standard corrective, restorative, or preventive measures. The things the intern will need to learn and become proficient with include:

• Performing chairside assistance in all phases of dental treatment including restorative, prosthodontic, surgical, endodontic and periodontal treatments, which encompass all routine dental procedures.
• Studying and passing the IHS radiology exam as well as learning proper radiographic skills utilizing the DXTTR mannequin.
• Studying and learning the proper four handed dental assisting technique
• Studying and learning how to identify all of the dental instruments used within our dental clinics.
• Learning proper sterilization techniques as well as cleaning, packaging, and sterilizing all dental instruments and ensuring proper storage.
• Learning how to receive and route patients, and schedule appointments.
• Accurately recording all required data into the patient’s chart using Office Management (Dentrix Enterprise), as relayed by Dentist and accurately retrieve and file dental charts.
• Learning how to complete dental laboratory work orders in compliance with dentist’s instructions.
• Learning how to take dental impressions and make proper dental models.
• Learning routine dental laboratory procedures trimming models, constructing custom trays, fabricating base plates and bite rims.
• Learning to become responsible for keeping the clinic operatories well supplied and requisitioning dental supplies and equipment.
• Learning how to relay to patient post treatment instructions, motivating and instructing patients in proper brushing and flossing techniques, care of prosthodontic appliances and give.
• Learning information regarding common causes of tooth decay.
• Helping to maintain the dental clinic in a clean and orderly manner.
• Learning how to place rubber dam isolation as directed by the Dentist.
• Maintaining communication through the Lead Dental Assistants to resolve concerns.

Other duties and responsibilities:

• Maintaining regular attendance and punctuality.
• Requires completion of tasks or duties assigned by a supervisor.
• Upholds all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.
• Adheres to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Adheres to WIHCCs Personnel Policies and Procedures, departmental policies, rules, and regulations.
• Interacts in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees, visitors, and vendors.
• Possesses cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Maintains compliance with all Human Resources requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.