Dental Assistant

Are you a compassionate and organized individual with a passion for patient care? Cowlitz Family Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center seeking dedicated Dental Assistants to help create bright smiles and ensure a positive experience for our patients. If you’re ready to make a difference in the world of dentistry, we want to meet you! Join us and help brighten lives, one smile at a time!

The Dental Assistant, as part of the dental health care team, assists dental providers in providing health care for clinic patients. The Dental Assistant rooms patients, takes histories and vitals, records patient information in the health care record, assists with examinations and procedures, and follows up with patients. The Dental Assistant is responsible for developing respectful, professional relationships with patients that assist them in improving their overall health and quality of life. The Dental Assistant works at the top of their license and displays a friendly manner, a commitment to service, strong decision-making skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.  

• Hourly Rate: $23.62 - $25.44 per hour DOE
• Monday Through Thursday, 8 hours per day
• 0.8 FTE

Mission and Values: Cowlitz Family Health Center provides a wide range of services to all individuals, regardless of background or socio-economic status, including medical, dental, family planning, substance abuse treatment, and behavioral health services. We believe every person has value, is worthy of respect, and deserves quality care regardless of their financial situation.

Cowlitz Family Health Center is growing and evolving. We are looking for people who share our vision, want to use their skills to provide exceptional customer service to our patients, and can adapt as we continue to make positive changes.

Cowlitz Family Health Center is a drug-free workplace and performs drug testing consistent with federal guidelines in the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. All candidates who receive a written offer of employment will be required to undergo testing for commonly abused controlled substances.

Benefits: We offer competitive wages and benefits including:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vison Plans – 100% for employee, up to 50 % for spouse/dependent(s) depending on plan
• Vacation: 160 hours per year to start, accrued bi-weekly
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Matching 403b Retirement Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance- $50,000 employer paid
• Long Term Disability and AD&D employer paid
• Employee Assistance Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance.

Requirements:

• Must possess a valid, unrestricted WA Dental Assisting Registration.  
• BLS/CPR certification is required within 3-6 months of hire.
• High school diploma plus successful completion of a minimum of one academic year of post-secondary education in a dental assisting program from an accredited educational institution.

DESIRED EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 1-4 years of previous work experience as a dental assistant preferred. 
• Proficient in dental terminology and dental office procedures.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn in-house programs, including EHR system.
• Knowledge of dental electronic health records and conventional and digital radiography.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a low-income, multi-ethnic patient population and relate respectfully and effectively to people of diverse racial, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Must be a confident, self-directed individual who can work within a team as well as independently.
• Must demonstrate excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, utilizing concise and comprehensive documentation with strong technical writing and record-keeping skills.
• Knowledge of evidence-based preventive health, chronic disease, and primary care. 
• Solid background in patient education and lifestyle risk reduction. 
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.