Dental Assistant

Position Summary: Assists the dentist & team in both administrative and clinical duties including: patient education, sterilization and disinfection of instruments, set up of rooms/ instruments/ trays, preparation of materials, note dictation, and assist during dental procedures. With appropriate qualifications, dental assistants can make radiographs and coronal polish.

Essential Functions:

• Set up of rooms, instruments & trays. Room turnaround.
• Sterilization of instruments.
• Educate patients in proper oral hygiene & caries prevention methods.
• Deliver post-op instructions.
• Complete procedure notes in patient record prior to leaving for the day.
• Take and record medical and dental histories/vital signs of patients.
• Assist chair-side during administration of nitrous oxide. Always turn off O2 prior to dismissing a patient.
• Make impressions for space maintainers.
• Make diagnostic X-rays.
• Actively provide instruments and materials to the dentist as needed during exams and procedures in order to help maintain patient comfort and procedure efficiency.
• Using and maintaining hazard control protocols as established by OSHA and office standards.
• Equipment Maintenance: perform routine maintenance on equipment. Maintain all equipment logs.
• Assist with dental and medical emergencies according to OSHA and office procedures.
• Perform financial duties including out-of-pocket estimate delivery to patients.
• Must always represent the practice in a professional, pleasant, and cooperative manner.
• Must maintain regular, consistent and punctual attendance in accordance with assigned schedule and time off policies.
• Maintain CPR certification.
• Must be able to work both independently and cooperatively in team settings.
• Occasionally there may be some travel required in order for you to participate in continuing education or seminars.
• Other duties and tasks, as assigned periodically.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• This position requires standing 50%, sitting 50%.
• There is moderate noise levels from dental and other laboratory equipment.
• Office setting is a dental office, laboratory setting, and hospital setting.
• Minimum lifting requirements of 35 pounds in order to transfer equipment and pack and unpack supplies.
• Frequent bending, twisting, and position changes in order to examine and service patients.
• Exceptional hand eye coordination and control in order to use dental implements for exams, to provide dentist assistance, and mixing and/or placing materials on dental tools, products, and in mouths.
• Frequent client and interoffice personnel interaction. This position is chair-side to dentists and is heavily dependent on excellent customer interaction.
• Near vision: the ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer) as required for mixing and placing materials on tools and in mouths.
• Potential occupational exposure to trace amounts of nitrous oxide and/or radiation.

Success Factors:

• Always maintain the highest level of confidentiality to HIPAA standards.
• Adhere to strict safety guidelines and procedures to OSHA and office standards.
• Adhere to office policy and procedures when collecting payments.
• Use downtime constructively: complete tasks issued efficiently and without protest.
• Must be comfortable seeing and able to maintain a professional demeanor and attitude while working around blood and smells that may be unpleasant.
• Must be detail-oriented in order to work efficiently in small spaces and maintain patient comfort.
• Must be flexible and understand that job duties may change from time to time and that may be asked to help in other areas of the office.
• Must excel in forward thinking in order to anticipate the needs of the doctor as well as the patient.
• Must demonstrate active listening: giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Must demonstrate good reading comprehension: understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Must demonstrate excellent communication skills: talking to others to convey information effectively.

*Incentive opportunties available*

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.00 - $27.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• On-the-job training
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Ability to Commute:

• Sanford, ME 04073 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Sanford, ME 04073: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $23 - $27