Dental Assistant

Job Purpose: 

The Dental Assistant supports the delivery of oral health care by preparing patients, treatment rooms, instruments and materials.  

Essential Job Functions including, but not limited to: 

1. Satisfies Core Competencies 

• Accepts responsibility for ensuring that performance meets the standards of the professional, ethical and relevant department requirements and OHCC core values.  

2. Customer Service 

•  Greets patients, handle their inquiries, and provides quality comprehensive care 
•  Facilitates completion of consent forms in accordance with requirements and procedures. 
•  Schedules and confirms appointments for patients. 
•  Demonstrates eagerness to learn and assume responsibility; seeks out and accepts increased responsibility; displays a "can do" approach to work. 
•  Delivers culturally and linguistically competent customer service consistently. 
• Handles confidential and sensitive patient information using HIPAA guidelines. 

3. Oral Health Care Delivery 

•  Prepare and maintain dental instruments, materials and equipment 
•  Prepares rooms for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols 
•  Collect and record patient information including health history and document in electronic record for dentist’s reference prior to examination. 
•  Help patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment. 
•  Take and process x-rays. 
•  Follow through with post-visit duties. 
•  Assist dentist chair-side by organizing and preparing instruments for dentist’s use and assisting as needed during procedures.  
•  Provide patient education in oral hygiene and dental care. 
•  Perform tasks according to approved privileges and under the supervision of the dentist including but not limited to: application of fluoride varnish and sealants, dental impressions  
•  Provides instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area; passing instruments and suctioning to assist dentist 
•  Educates patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions 
•  Documents dental care services in patient records 
•  Utilize the requisite tools, systems, technology and equipment in the collection of patient Data and documentation management and collections. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of dentistry procedures, clinic infection control procedures, cleaning and sterilization of instruments, tray setup and materials.

Required Education: 

• Dental Assistant Certification in the state of Louisiana, EDDA required.  

Skills, Licensure and Knowledge Requirements:  

•  Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification required 
•  Proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Office, and typing skills are required.  
•  Excellent verbal, customer service, and written skills are necessary for this position.  
•  Good organizational skills are essential.  
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred. 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

•  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach 
•  Specific vision abilities required include close vision requirements due to computer work 
• Light to moderate lifting is required 

Work Environment:  

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

•  Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic). 
•  Ability to work in a confined area. 
•  Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time.