Part-Time Dental Assistant

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Put your full expanded-function skill set to work where it helps change young lives. The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is seeking a Dental Assistant to join the dental clinic at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn. Working chairside with our dentist, you will deliver preventive, restorative, and oral health education services to youth ages 12 through 24 in OYA's care. You will regularly practice the expanded functions you trained for, from coronal polishing and temporary crowns to digital radiographs, in a focused clinic with a consistent patient population and a collaborative health services team. Just as important, you will help young people build healthy habits and confidence they carry with them when they return to their communities. OYA's culture of positive human development is grounded in integrity, professionalism, accountability, and respect, and we value the perspectives that people of all backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences bring to our work. If you hold Oregon radiologic proficiency and expanded functions certifications and want dental work with real purpose, we encourage you to apply.

• →Assist the dentist chairside with examinations and restorative, surgical, and preventive procedures, and chart exam findings as relayed by the dentist.

• →Position sensors and expose digital radiographs following Oregon Board of Dentistry standards.

• →Perform expanded functions, including coronal polishing, placing and removing matrix bands, fabricating and recementing temporary crowns, taking preliminary impressions and bite registrations, removing sutures, and replacing orthodontic elastic ties.

• →Provide oral hygiene instruction and fluoride treatments that help youth build lasting oral health habits.

• →Prepare operatories, instruments, and materials; sterilize instruments; maintain daily instrument counts and sterilization logs; and keep the dentist informed of supply needs.

Would you like to learn more about this position or how our application process works? Join our Recruitment team from 11am-11:30am PST during our monthly OYA Career Chat Sessions. We can assist you with all your application and agency questions!

Click Here to Register for OYA Career Chats!

About OYA

The Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) is a national leader in the juvenile justice field, pioneering the implementation of a positive human development framework for its work with staff and youth, and using data to match the right youth with the right services. We seek to foster cultural competence and pursue equitable solutions to support youth under our care. Our agency mission is to protect the public and reduce crime by holding youth accountable and providing opportunities for reformation in safe environments.

If you are looking to join a team that values individual and cultural differences and the opportunity to contribute in the success of youth reformation by enriching our workforce with diversity, OYA wants to hear from you!

People of color, women and other members of historically underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply!

For more information please visit www.oregon.gov/oya.

• One year of support experience (six months of which must be chairside dental assisting experience); OR
• A graduate of a dental assisting program AND possession of a valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation card AND Certification for Radiologic Proficiency AND certification by the Dental Assisting National Board for expanded functions (EFDA). 

Special Qualifications

• Certification for Radiologic Proficiency from the Oregon State Board of Dentistry
• Expanded Functions certified, EFDA, by the Oregon State Board of Dentistry
• Must have and maintain a valid Healthcare Provider level CPR card

Note: You do not need to have all of these qualities to be eligible for this position.

• Experience using electronic dental records or practice management software and digital radiography or imaging software.
• Experience performing Oregon expanded functions on patients in a clinical work setting, such as coronal polishing, placing and removing matrix bands, fabricating temporary crowns, and taking preliminary impressions.
• Experience applying infection control and sterilization monitoring procedures, including instrument processing, sterilization logs, and instrument counts
• Experience providing dental care in a correctional, juvenile justice, community health, public health, school-based, hospital, residential, or other safety-net setting.
• Collaborates with a multidisciplinary team (dentist, nursing, medical, and facility staff) to coordinate youth care. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Manages competing clinic priorities, such as chairside assisting, sterilization, and operatory setup, during a changing schedule while maintaining infection control. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Communicates with youth in a respectful, encouraging, trauma-informed way, including oral hygiene instruction adapted to each person. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Maintains professional boundaries, accuracy, and safety awareness in a secure setting. (will be assessed at time of interview)
• Demonstrates commitment to equitable, culturally responsive care for youth of all backgrounds. (will be assessed at time of interview)
  
  

How To Apply:

• Click on the "Apply" link above to complete your online application and submit by the posted closing date and time. For step-by-step instructions click apply to work for the state or current state employee.
• Resume Required: The resume must be a separate document submitted in PDF format to ensure accessibility. The information you input under the 'Experience' section when applying does not constitute a resume. 
• The work experience and/or education section of your application/resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet all the minimum qualifications and desired skills and attributes listed above. Failing to attach required documents may result in disqualification of your application.
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process. 
• Be sure to check Workday and your email for additional tasks and updates. After hitting submit there may be additional required tasks for you to complete prior to the announcement closing. Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.
• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources.  Be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting in order to have the preference considered.

Additional Information:

• Open Until Filled: This recruitment will remain open until filled. Our first application screening is scheduled for October 29, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. but we may close the announcement at any time after this date when we have received an adequate number of applications. We cannot guarantee that we will consider applications received after this screening date. We encourage interested applicants not to delay in applying.
• Part-Time: This is a part-time position that is scheduled to work up to 30 hours per week. Benefits will be prorated according to the number of hours worked. The posted salary/pay range for this announcement is based on full-time hours; the salary will be prorated for part-time hours.
• For a complete list of duties and responsibilities, please contact HR Recruitment at OYAJOBS@oya.oregon.gov 
• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill multiple, current, and future vacancies.
• Your application materials are used to determine your starting salary range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying. For more information on pay equity, click here.
• The salary range listed is the non-PERS participating rate. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%. Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.
• This position receives annual increases on anniversary date until the maximum of the salary range is reached.
• This position is part of the state's management team.
• Please save a copy of this job announcement for your reference, as it may not be available for you to view after the job closes.

Our amazing benefits include: 

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental plans for you and your family. Additional benefits include life insurance, short- and long-term disability, deferred compensation savings plans, and flexible spending accounts for health and childcare. 
• Generous Paid Time Off: 11 holidays, 3 personal business days, monthly sick leave and vacation leave that increases with years of service. 
• Retirement Benefits: Membership in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP). 
• Wellness Resources: Support for work-life balance, health, and overall well-being. 
• Career Development: Opportunities for professional growth and advancement. 
• Commuting: Access to Get There - Oregon’s carpool matching tool and trip planner. 
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. 

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In keeping with our mission, OYA will conduct a criminal record check, per OAR 416 Division 800, a driving record background check and a vulnerable population abuse and neglect check. Information obtained about an individual is confidential. An individual who refuses to consent to a criminal records/background check shall be disqualified from consideration in the position for which you applied. All applicants are subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as fingerprint based on criminal records check, pre-employment drug screening and/or education verification as required for the position.

In 2003 Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), the first federal civil statue focused specifically on addressing sexual violence in juvenile facilities, jails, prisons, and other facilities.  In recognition of the rights, safety, and well-being of the youth we serve you will be asked specific questions about your background to ensure our hiring and promotion practices comply with the National PREA standards. 

We do not offer Visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. OYA uses E-Verify to confirm that applicants are authorized to work in the United States.