Dental Assistant - Lead

Pay Range:

Pay Range:$27.81 - $38.62 Provides leadership and oversight to Dental Assistants in support of the Area Dental Unit Chief while working in full capacity as a Dental Assistant during the day-to-day operation of the dental clinic.

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Shift Details

10-hour shifts, 4 days per week.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job

• Supports the Dental Assistant Supervisor

  • Leads the day-to-day activities and duties of the dental assistants as requested and ensures completion of assistants’ assigned duties. 

  • Supports weekly and monthly infection control, clinic maintenance, and quality improvement activities. 

  • Leads Dental Assistant meetings as assigned. 

• Ensures DA compliance of cart and/or tub standardization. 

  • Maintains daily log of compliance for cart and/or tub checkoffs.

  • Ensures dental operatory standardization

  • Maintains daily log of compliance for cart and/or tub checkoffs.

• Oversees inventory of all stocked items and ordering all clinic supplies and materials.

• Oversees daily logs of Medical Emergency Equipment; Sensor and 68 Head count; Sterilization Equipment.

• Conducts dental assistant competencies initially and annually, including:

  • Instrument and room setups for procedures such as exams, implants, endodontics, oral surgery, etc, radiography, rubber dam placement and other competencies as needed.  

  • Works with supervisors for disciplinary and/or clinical remediation.

  • Assists with the training of new dental assistant trainees.

  • Works ongoing with dental assistants to ensure they have opportunity to meet their yearly competencies.

• Provides four-handed, age specific dental assisting for all SEARHC beneficiaries.

  • Takes diagnostically acceptable radiographs.

  • Exposes digital radiographs.

  • Cleans and prepares operatories, sets up instruments and materials in advance, sterilizes instruments and maintains sterilization records.

  • Places rubber dam, wedges and matrix bands.

  • Properly dispenses, mixes and uses appropriately and efficiently equipment.

  • Monitors and records vital signs as necessary.

Other Functions

• Other duties as assigned

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Certification in: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) preferred but not required. 

• Current CPR certificate.

• Current Radiology certificate.

• BLS required within 90 days of start.

• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and every three years

Experience Required

• A minimum of 1 year work experience with history of proficiency in dental assisting and progressive increase of clinical responsibilities.

Knowledge of

• SEARHC Human Resources Policies

• Dental materials

• Dental procedures and instruments​

Skills in

• Oral and written communication skills

• Hand and eye coordination skills

• Organizational skills

Ability to

• Work with multiple staff members in a constructive team environment

• Provide training to less experienced staff in a mentoring supportive manner

• Set the standards and expectations for less experienced staff in a professional manner

• Effectively monitor inventory and order supplies in a timely fashion

Required Certifications:

Basic Life Support (BLS) - American Heart Association, Clinical Competency Assessment - SEARHC, CPR/AED (AHA) - American Heart Association, High Risk Competency - SEARHC

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!