Dental Assistant- FCI-Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL

Job Description

Job Description

Dental Assistant– FCI-Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL

Work Location
Bureau of Prisons
Federal Correctional Institute-Tallahassee501 Capital Circle NETallahassee, FL 32301

• Citizenship Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Clearance Requirements: National Background Check with Inquiries, Fingerprints, and Drug Screen.
• Type of Employment: Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
• Period of Performance: Five years from the date of Award.
• Total Compensation: $25.33 per hour.
• Paid Time Off: Up to 80 hours per year, which starts accruing on the day of hire.
• Sick Leave per Year: Up to 56 hours per year, which starts occurring on the day of hire.
• Paid Federal Holidays: Eleven (11) Paid Federal Holidays

Working Hours

The Dental Assistant will normally work Monday through Friday, 6:00 am to 2:30 pm, or 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, excluding Federal Holidays. Each daily schedule will include a 30-minute unpaid lunch break. The Phlebotomist shall not exceed 40 hours per week.

Summary of Duties

The Dental Assistant must perform all duties in accordance with standards and methods generally accepted within the field of dental assistant services, and in compliance with all Federal and State policy and regulations. The Dental Assistant will assist the dentist during dental procedures, assist in maintaining accountability and sterilization of instruments, become proficient in the Bureau Electronic Medical Records System [BEMR] (the inmate electronic medical record), conduct him/herself in a professional manner around inmates, and perform any other tasks deemed necessary by the dentist while adhering to the general practice of a dental assistant.

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Must have specialty training from a licensed dentist and/or certification from an accredited Dental Assistant school, including dental radiology and radiology safety. Registered Dental Assistant is recommended.
• Must hold current CPR certification from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.Must have a minimum of two (2) months of experience providing dental assistant services

**Copies of all certifications and resumes must be emailed to View email address on ziprecruiter.com.

Attire

The Dental Assistant is expected to wear professional clothing while on duty (scrub uniforms are approved). The attire worn shall also be appropriate for the correctional environment in which the contract employee will be performing.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists the Dental Officer in restorative, oral surgery, periodontics, prosthodontics, examinations, and emergency dental procedures. Retrieves patient records, escorts patients to the appropriate treatment area, seats and prepares them for care, and provides dismissal instructions and follow-up guidance.
  
• Prepares dental instruments, materials, medications, treatment rooms, and equipment for procedures, and passes instruments, retracts tissues, irrigates, and operates suction/aspiration equipment during treatment. Observes patient responses throughout procedures and assists with patient comfort and safety.
• Performs dental screenings, dental and periodontal charting, and provides dental health education to patients. Conducts routine oral prophylaxis using hand and mechanical instruments when authorized.
• Assists in periodontal and oral surgery procedures, including preparation of patients, placement and removal of packs, placement and removal of rubber dams, and post-procedure care.
• Places temporary fillings, bases, and liners when authorized, and assists with fabrication and repair of complete and partial dentures as directed by the Dental Officer. 
• Selects tooth shade for composite restorations and prosthetics as required.
• Takes and processes dental radiographs using standard and digital imaging equipment, including periapical, occlusal, panoramic, cephalometric, TMJ, and lateral views. 
• Correctly positions patients and imaging materials, determines appropriate radiation exposure levels, and ensures adherence to radiation safety protocols.
• Processes, stores, and maintains digital radiographic images within patient medical records and performs quality assurance checks on radiographic and developing equipment, including safelight verification. 
• Maintains strict infection control procedures in all radiographic and clinical operations and sterilizes contaminated biological waste.
• Cleans, sharpens, sterilizes, and maintains dental instruments and equipment, performs daily equipment inspections, and makes minor repairs as needed.
• Prepares treatment rooms for subsequent patients and ensures readiness for continuous clinical workflow.
• Documents all care accurately in both electronic and paper dental records, including treatment entries, patient responses, and procedural notes. 
• Provides assistance in scheduling follow-up appointments and ensuring continuity of care.
• Applies medications and agents prescribed by the Dental Officer, including gingival and anti-cariogenic treatments, to promote healing and prevent dental disease.
• Receives specific clinical direction from the attending dentist regarding emergency and unusual treatment situations and implements procedures according to established professional guidelines, written protocols, and verbal instructions.