The Dental Assistant prepares and maintains all clinical areas for optimal patient treatment, assists chair-side during treatment of patients, ensures that equipment is maintained in operating order and meets standards for health and safety, and implements proper and current infection control duties as per agency procedures and protocol.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures

• Performs procedures in compliance with the Dental Practice Act.

• Prepares treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols.

• Taking and processing digital dental radiographs (x-rays).

• Asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse

• Serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment

• Helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment

• Providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling)

• Teaching patients’ appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health;

• Postoperative Call/Following up with patient care after any Dental Treatment is completed.

• Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.

• Taking impressions of patients' teeth for study casts (models of teeth)

• Communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies)

• Documents dental care services by charting in patient records.

• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.

• Maintains CE’s, and RDA Certification/License

• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

JOB SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS/SKILL

• Dental health maintenance.

• Use of dental technology.

• Infection control.

• Patient services.

• Creating a safe, effective environment.

• Listening.

• Teamwork.

• Bedside manner.

• Health promotion and maintenance.

• Use of medical technologies.

• Performing diagnostic procedures.

• Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills in the English language.

• Ability to maintain professional relationships while addressing complex or sensitive issues.

• Ability to respond to emergent or stressful situations in a calm or professional manner.

• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, work independently, multitask, and produce results in a high stress environment.

• Must possess intermediate computer skills using basic applications.

• Must possess knowledge of federal, state, and commercial insurance regulations and programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to do the following:

• Must have good or corrected vision as well as effective peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• Must have good manual dexterity and be able to use repetitive motion of the hands and arms.

• Must be able to remain stationary position up to one hour.

• Must be occasionally move about inside of the office to perform administrative tasks.

• Must be able to constantly operate a computer and/or other office equipment such as calculator, copy machine, or printer.

• Must be able to frequently and effectively communicate in both written and verbal form.

• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds and/or push/pull objects up to 100 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to chemical and risk of radiation. The noise level is usually moderate. Since everyone within the practice works on a time schedule governed by patients’ appointments, the work and general environment can become somewhat hectic at times. Therefore, it is essential that the employee is able to both physically and emotionally, effectively hand the normal anxieties associated with the job.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

• RDA LICENSE (required)

• 2 years in a dental office (minimum 2 years required)

• Experience with EMR (electronic medical records), medical terminology a plus

Benefit Conditions:

• Only full-time employees eligible

Clinical Setting:

• Pediatric Dentistry

Dental Specialty:

• Pediatric Dentistry

Work Remotely

• No

This Job Is Ideal for Someone Who Is:

• Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous
• Adaptable/flexible -- enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction
• Detail-oriented -- would rather focus on the details of work than the bigger picture