Dental Assistant

Join Our Team at Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc.

We are seeking an enthusiastic Dental Assistant to join our dental team. In this role you'll handle a blend of administrative and chair-side responsibilities while learning core skills in sterilization, patient education, and infection control. If you're organized, eager to learn, and excited to launch a career in dentistry, we'd love to meet you! Plus, we're offering a $3.50/hour differential for every hour worked, making this a great opportunity to grow your career while earning more.

Responsibilities & Essential Functions:

Administrative Duties

• Greet patients and keep charts, treatment plans, referrals, and daily charges up to date.
• Complete daily documentation for sterilization logs, equipment checks, and infection-prevention records.
• Navigate the digital X-ray program and verify correct placement of X-ray orders.
• Assist providers by documenting rapid-response notes in potential emergencies.
• Work with Billing to resolve incomplete or missing information promptly.
• Track and document inventory of supplies, materials, and clinical logbooks.

Clinical Duties

• Check patients in: record blood pressure, pain level, medications, allergies, health history, and X-ray needs.
• Prepare operatories for basic dental care (exams, preventive visits, restorations, oral surgery, endo, removable/fixed prosthodontics).
• Chair-side assist using 4-handed dentistry techniques, proper suction, and retraction.
• Take alginate impressions and bite registrations; pour models and fabricate custom trays and bite rims.
• Polish prosthetics, perform toothbrush/rubber-cup prophy, apply fluoride, and mix dental materials.

Infection Control

• Disinfect and reset operatories following blood-borne-pathogen protocols.
• Check/stock rooms daily and ensure correct storage of sterile items.
• Clean and sterilize instruments in ultrasonic units and autoclaves; monitor sterilization indicators.
• Help maintain clinical equipment and comply with OSHA, AAAHC, CDC, and internal infection-control standards.

Patient Education

• Provide oral-hygiene instruction, review consent forms, and deliver post-operative guidelines.
• Explain basic restorative, oral-surgery, endodontic, periodontal, and pediatric procedures.

Training & Education

• Participate in onboarding, workflow education, and new-hire competencies.
• Prepare for the final Dental Assistant exam and radiology certification.

Qualification & Skills:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required)
• Current CPR/BLS certification (or obtained upon hire)
• Two years of office or customer-service experience preferred
• Knowledge of dental terms, procedures, and Colorado Radiology training a plus
• Excellent communication, organizational, and multi-tasking abilities
• Professional demeanor with sensitivity to diverse patient populations

Why Join Valley-Wide?

Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. is dedicated to providing high-quality, patient-centered healthcare to all individuals across our multi-county service area in southern Colorado. As a non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), we offer premier primary and preventive care through our 34 service sites strategically located in rural communities.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Free Health Insurance (additional plan options available)
• Employer-paid Air Ambulance Coverage (MASA)
• Employer-paid Basic Life, LTD, STD
• Retirement Match
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance, HRA, FSA, DCA, Retirement Plan
• Generous Paid Leave:
  • Vacation: 10 days accrued per year
  • Sick Leave: 12 days accrued per year
  • Holidays: 7 days per year + 3 Floating Holidays

Pay Range: Hourly - Min: $17.64- Max: $22.05 (based on qualifications and experience) Compensation includes a $3.50/hour cost of living differential added to the base hourly rate for all hours worked. This differential recognizes the higher cost of living in Buena Vista and does not apply to paid leave such as vacation, sick, or holiday time.

For more information please visit our website: Valley-Wide Careers

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Valley-Wide Health Systems, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunity, with hiring decisions based on job-related factors.

Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) For more information on employee rights under FMLA, please visit: FMLA Employee Rights