Description

The Dental Assistant works under the direct supervision of the dentist and reports to the Health Center Manger. Job duties include: Seating patients, room set up, room clean-up, assisting the dentist, sterilizing equipment, reporting equipment maintenance needs, securing, and maintaining records.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Support and implement the organization’s vision, mission and value.

2.Determines priorities and method of completing daily workload to ensure that all responsibilities are carried out in a timely manner.

3.Performs all job functions in a professional and courteous manner. This includes answering all phone calls and emails timely and providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers.

4.Fosters and promotes a culture of service excellence and accountability.

5.Charts existing restorations and extractions according to radiographs.

6.Placement of post-extraction and periodontal dressing.

7.Responsible for room set-up and clean-up to include turning equipment (vacuum/compressor, autoclave and X-ray units) on and off throughout the day, disinfect countertops, chairs, lights and all patient areas, remove and replace instruments after usage.

8.Prepare patient for treatment by seating patient, adjusting chair for convenient angle and draping patient.

9.Responsible for the sterilization of hand instruments via the autoclave and maintaining and lubricating hand pieces as required.

10.Review patient chart and using standard practices and procedural instructions as a guide, determines what instruments and materials will be needed and insure they are available for usage.

11.Assist the dentist by, passing equipment upon request, mixing filing compounds (composite and/or amalgam) placing and positioning suction tubes in the patient's mouth, taking and developing x-rays as requested.

12.Maintain patient records by indicating type of work done and assists in scheduling future visits by determining time intervals according to the type of work to be done.

13.Perform duties as an interpreter and participates in patient orientation to include providing information about available dental services, proper personal dental hygiene and nutrition.

14.Prepare reports clearly, neatly and accurately with complete documentation in a timely manner

15.Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.

16.Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.

17.Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.

18.Adheres to all infection prevention policies and procedures and properly disposes of biohazard waste & sharps. Performs daily cleaning and stocking of supplies and equipment.

19.Complies with organizational policies and procedures

20.Performs required maintenance and quality assurance testing for all equipment.

21.Demonstrates competence with the front office responsibilities of the job, e.g., process referrals, register patients, follow-up on procedures, make appointments and answer phone calls.

22.Perform all other duties as assigned

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

1.Demonstrate ability and flexibility to work in other areas of the organization as needed.

2.Adheres to company policies and procedures in the performance of work duties.

3.Demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and education for job functions.

4.Perform as a self-starter who needs no reminders of duties and tasks that need to be completed and requires little or no direct supervision.

5.Identify problems and opportunities to improve the quality of department services and implement changes or reports suggestions to the Supervisor.

6.Demonstrate ability to problem solve and perform critical thinking.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

1. High School graduate or GED equivalency required.
2. Two years related experience (preferred).
3. 2-hour California Dental Practice Act (CDPA) course, 8-hour Infection Control for Dental Assistants course required, X-Ray certificate required
4. Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred).
5. CPR required

Other Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to organize and prioritize work with minimum supervision.
2. Ability to utilize (with training) the QueensCare Health Centers computer system to perform work
3. Ability to work well with children
4. Computer literate