DENTAL ASSISTANT

Requisition No: 798312

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: DENTAL ASSISTANT - 64082345

Position Number: 64082345

Salary: $ 30,100.00 - $34,320.00

Posting Closing Date: 04/07/2023

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

Your Specific Responsibilities:

The Incumbent, an employee of the Florida Department of Health in Putnam County, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, County, and community efforts. The incumbent is expected to promote Innovation by searching for creative solutions and managing resources wisely. They are expected to collaborate through teamwork to achieve common goals and solve problems. The incumbent is expected to be accountable and perform with integrity and respect. They are expected to be responsive by serving our customers and engaging our partners. Finally, the incumbent is expected to perform with excellence by promoting quality outcomes through learning and continuous performance. This is a Dental Assistant position located at the Putnam County Health Department and functions under the supervision of the Dentist. This work provides dental assisting with preventive and educational dental health programs.

Assists the Dentist/Dental Hygienist in all phases of dentistry by utilizing current concepts of fourhanded dentistry to increase productivity, reduce client stress, and improve quality of dental care. Performs all pre-op and post-op clinical duties. Utilizes safe needle/sharps handling and control; prepares and loads local anesthetic syringes; safely disposes of needles and local anesthetics (if applicable). Adheres to established State infection control guidelines, Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, and Local Operating Procedures. Minimizes the possibility of occupational hazards and exposure to infectious and communicable diseases among patient and staff.

Ensures all dental forms (e.g., consent, health history, and other relevant treatment documentation are available, completed, signed, and organized for the Dentist before and after each procedure. Verifies client’s identification prior to seating and draping. Takes and records vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration) and informs Dentist/Dental Hygienist of vitals prior to the start of each procedure. Mixes and assists with preparing various restorative and impression materials, waxes, and resin products.

Follows dental radiograph capturing and processing mandates and regulations. Captures, processes, and ensures all radiographs are of diagnostic quality. Uses barriers and disinfects all x-ray equipment after each use. Provides relief during absences/vacancies as required to ensure continuity of dental treatment for chairside, back-office and self-care duties.

Plans, organizes, coordinates, and provides Oral Hygiene Instruction (OHI) to clients. Educates clients on the importance of proper oral hygiene (e.g., brushing, and flossing techniques); informs patients of available dental services. Performs chart reviews prior to the patients scheduled appointment to ensure charts are up to date.

Presoaks, cleans, and decontaminates, rinses, dries, bags, wraps, or packages, sterilizes, and properly stores all dental instrument, tools, and hand pieces. Monitors the sterilization process and performs spore tests as required. Mails spore tests (if applicable) or process sample through the incubation process for analysis and maintains a log with test dates and results of analysis. Properly disposes of bio-hazardous dental waste materials (e.g., extracted teeth, bone, tissue, blood-soaked gauze, used dental sharps). Follows the manufacturer’s recommendations when using, cleaning, and maintaining dental vacuum systems; lubricates hand pieces before and after sterilization, and uses, cleans, and maintains dental sterilizations units.

Cleans, disinfects, handles, pours, and trims dental impressions or models; prepares boxes for mail outs, and tracks impressions or models used in the fabrication of dental appliances.

Maintains (e.g., stocks, restocks, orders, and inventories) dental supplies e.g., local anesthetic, gauze, cotton rolls, filling materials, needles, patient bibs) and ensures enough are readily available for the Dentist/Dental Hygienist. Monitors expirations dates on all applicable dental materials. Maintains dental records, appointment schedules, and organization of dental forms for the electronic medical records. Assists Dentist/Dental Hygienist, in the oral examination process including screenings and exams. Assists with post-treatment procedures (e.g., post-op instructions, prescriptions, and OHI). Continually observes the dental clinic environment and corrects deficiencies as appropriate. Inspects premises to maintain a safe and secure working environment as dictated by policy.

Perform other related duties as required. Complies with all Department of Health and Dental security and confidentiality rules and requirements. This position serves a large population of Spanish speaking clients and employee may be required to perform interpreter duties, if bilingual.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Principles and methods of sterilization; uses of the more common dental instruments, equipment, and materials; dental hygiene and prophylaxis; dental office procedure and principles of digital dental record keeping, including techniques used in dental radiography; and names or numbers of the teeth and various surfaces of the crown of the tooth.

Ability to Communicate effectively at a level required for successful job performance; identify the more common dental instruments, equipment, and materials; mix dental materials and prepare dental accessories; stand for long periods of time; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action; follow directions; and maintain effective working relationships with health care professionals and others.

Qualifications:

Minimum- Expanded Functions and Dental Radiography certifications and Dental Assistant Certificate.

Preferred - Dental assisting experience

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values:

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Work Location

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions

(For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.