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Department

Dental Assistant Program

It's never too early or too late to start a career as a Dental Assistant! 

Program Highlights

Students in this program will benefit from the following:

• 6-month program of training and education.
• Full time. Upon completion of this program, students are expected to pass the Denver Health Dental Assistant Final Exam to become a Dental Assistant.
• 960 hours of education to include online learning, simulation labs, and experiential rotations at a minimum of seven dental clinics, 8 sites within the Denver Health system.
• Hands-on learning directly within the industry, providing the best possible learning opportunities for our students.
• Highly skilled and educated preceptors and staff.
• Working in a healthcare setting that values our diverse patient population and workforce. 

Job Summary

Under direct supervision, provides sub-professional dental work assisting dental providers in the care and treatment of dental patients while participating as a dental assisting student intern with the Denver Health Dental Assistant Training Program. Functions to support both front and back clinical functions in creating an environment that enhances the patient experience by ensuring safety and quality of dental service.

Essential Functions:

• At the Clinical Level:
  • Maintaining all environment of care areas, including equipment, dental materials, and stocking of supplies in all rooms to ensure that the clinic is functional and in good working order.
  (40%)
• At the Chairside Level:
  • Communicates well with patients by providing and following AIDET protocols when greeting and seating patients in a timely manner.
  • Provides chair side dental assistance to all providers within all Dental Specialty Departments.
  • Acquires diagnostic and quality radiographic images for the providers with good visibility and contrast.
  • Properly handling of dental instruments and sterilization of needed equipment. Setting up and breaking down of all operatories before and after care.
  • Demonstrates asepsis techniques and practices appropriate infection control in the operatories.
  • Follow OSHA, CDC, ADA, and Joint Commission regulations and guidelines.
  • Reviews daily schedules to determine needs for the day for the TEAM and communicates adjustments for proper patient flow.
  (50%)
• At the Patient and Employee Level:
  • Supports scheduling and reappointing of patients for follow-up care.
  • Follows HIPPA guidelines to maintain patient record confidentiality.
  • Promotes positive interpersonal (customer) relationships with fellow employees, physicians, patients and visitors.
  • Treats these individuals with courtesy, dignity, empathy and respect; consistently displays courteous and respectful verbal and non-verbal
  (10%)

Education:

• No High School Diploma and/or No GED

Work Experience:

• 0-1 months training/experience providing chair side assistance to a dentist in the examination and treatment of patients.

Licenses:
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge generally at a base level of dental materials
• Knowledge of patient record maintenance procedures.
• Knowledge of infection control and safety guidelines.
• Skill in placing and positioning suction tubes and isolation devices in patients.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to follow Dentist’s instructions.
• Ability to schedule patients using in-house scheduling software.
• Ability to calm patient when necessary.

*SALARY: $20.57 per hour (fixed rate)*

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

• Outstanding benefits including up to 27 paid days off per year, immediate retirement plan employer contribution up to 9.5%, and generous medical plans

• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)

• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Tuition reimbursement & assistance

• Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching

• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program 

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

Our Values

• Respect

• Belonging

• Accountability

• Transparency

All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made.

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community.

Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.