Dental Assistant (1709)

POSITION PURPOSE: Dental assistants greatly increase the dentist's efficiency in delivering quality oral health care and are valuable dental care team members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES:

1. Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures.
2. Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays).
3. Asking about the patient’s medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse.
4. Serving as an infection control officer, developing infection control protocol, and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment.
5. Helping patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.
6. Providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as placing a restoration (filling).
7. Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health. (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing, and nutritional counseling).
8. Taking impressions of patient’s teeth for study casts (models of teeth).
9. Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal computer.
10. Communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing, and ordering supplies).
11. Helping to provide direct patient care in all dental specialties, including orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and oral surgery.
12. Other duties as assigned.
13. Evaluates the effectiveness of the care given by interdisciplinary care, identifies problems, and guides team members in their solution.
14. Participates in training, orientation, competency assessment, and education of new employees.
15. Communicates clearly, concisely, and accurately, creating a working climate that provides growth and job satisfaction for personnel.
16. Serves as a resource person to other staff in the area of one’s own clinical expertise.
17. Acts professionally, reflecting the mission of the Community Health Center, and demonstrates compliance with all policies, procedures, and federal/state regulations.
18. Demonstrates ongoing service excellence skills.
19. Maintains economical and efficient Dental Assistance care in a clean and safe environment.
20. Participate in performance improvement activities as requested.
21. Demonstrates ongoing understanding of corporate compliance policy.
22. Participates in meetings and conferences and demonstrates a genuine desire to develop strategies for improved clinic operations and a high level of patient care.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrates ability to consistently perform job duties as outlined in the job description.
• Demonstrates and supports service excellence standards outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional growth and competence.
• Demonstrates compliance with patient confidentiality 100% of the time.
• Handwriting is legible 100% of the time.
• Knowledge of the Dentrix software program
• Familiar with insurance coverages.

QUALIFICATIONS:

       Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Dental Assistant Certification from an accredited school
• PA Certification/Registration
• X-Ray Certification

     Experience:

Three (3) years of dental assisting experience