Dental/Orthodontic Assistant

Your job is more than a job.

Why a Great Place to Work At LCMC Health we help you to lean into your calling by leaning in with you, ensuring you have the resources to do your job as only you can. And that begins with receiving the support you need to thrive and grow, which looks different for each person. Living out our commitment to inclusion requires providing benefits that are as diverse and unique as our workforce. It’s a responsibility we take seriously. Because we don’t just serve the New Orleans community—we’re at the beating heart of it. Whether by offering community health services or making medical innovations more accessible, LCMC Health is bringing a culture of wellness to the communities that matter to you. When you know you’re making an authentic impact, you give a little extra to every day— as a person, with your team, in your community—and that’s one of the reasons why you’ll be a perfect fit at LCMC Health, where giving a little something extra is at the heart of everything we do.

GENERAL DUTIES

Assist Dentists/Collect Patient Information:

• Assist dentists by holding instrument trays and handing them specific tools.
• May perform minor procedures independently such as rubber cup prophies/supra gingival polishing, placing rubber dams, fitting crowns and bands, as per guidance by the Dental Practice Act.
• Collects patient data regarding tooth problems, known allergies, past medical history, and other information required by the dentist.
• Greets patients who come into the office and answers incoming phone calls to schedule appointments.

Prepare Patients and Rooms:

• Prepares patient rooms by cleaning up after patients leave and preparing instrument trays. Also prepares patients by helping them get into position for their dental examinations. Monitors vital signs during dental treatment.
• Assists the dentist with patient care during dental cleanings, restorative treatment, orthodontic treatments and oral surgeries.

Sterilize Tools/Perform X-Rays:

• Sterilizes all tools used by the dentist between patient exams and follows sanitation guidelines.
• Performs X-rays of patients’ teeth, following all proper safety procedures and obtains images and impressions.

Educate Patients/Post Client Information:

• Advises and educates patients on proper dental care, oral hygiene practices, postoperative instructions, and maintaining healthy-teeth diets.
• Records notes for patient files and transcribes notes from the dentist into the files.

Protect Patient Privacy:

• Observes all HIPAA rules by protecting patient privacy.

Order New Supplies:

• Maintains the supply inventory by ordering X-ray safety equipment, sterilization solutions, dental tools, and exam room supplies as necessary.

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

Preferred: 1-year minimum clinical experience in a General or Pediatric dentistry. 2 years minimum in Orthodontics

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Preferred: Graduated from an accredited dental assistant program.

BLS Healthcare Provider Certification from the American Heart Association;

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Expanded duty dental assisting certification, X-ray certification

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

• Does this position formally supervise employees? No

FUNCTIONAL DEMANDS

• Light: Light physical requirements- Light Work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible. NOTE: The constant stress and strain of maintaining a production rate pace, especially in an industrial setting, can be and is physically demanding of a worker even though the amount of force exerted is negligible.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS<