Dental Assistant

Description

Job title

DENTAL ASSISTANT 

Reports to

Practice Manager

Position Summary

The Dental Assistant supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment rooms, patients, instruments, and materials to provide quality care. In addition, Dental Assistant’s perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties, and provide chair-side assistance to dentists during exam. 

Team members are expected uphold the health center mission by assuring that patients receive health care that is competent, caring, and meets with a high degree of satisfaction. In addition, staff must support FPCN's commitment to the creation of a trauma-informed system of care that continually recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic stress on all those who have contact with the organization, including children, adults, families, caregivers, and staff.

Essential Duties and Functions

1. Prepares and maintains dental instruments, supplies (materials, cement, amalgam, composite, impression), and equipment.
2. Assemble instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area, positioning instruments for dentist’s access, suctioning, and passing instruments.
3. Collects and records patient health information thoroughly in the electronic health record regarding all treatment plans and procedures completed. 
4. Manage patients and educate on all procedures during dental procedure/treatment. 
5. Seat patients in exam room as soon as possible after patients are checked in perform medical history update, blood pressure reading and x-rays as determined by the doctor 
6. Help to confirm the clinic schedule in conjunction with front desk staff
7. Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, checking and stocking all operatory for supplies and ensuring there fully stocked. 
8. Print x-rays as needed as well as periodontal and full mouth charting from electronic health record for Endo, Crowns, Removable Prosthetics and scaling/root planning’s for insurance preauthorization and billing for treatment completed. 
9. Complete lab work on time (Models, trays, occlusal rims) 
10. Coordinate outgoing and incoming lab cases, assuring that lab slips and return dates are correct and calling labs for pickups. 
11. Flush water lines daily and perform DUWL disinfection procedures weekly. 
12. Maintain HIPAA and protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
13. Keep work stations neat and organized.

Rotation on following Duties: 

1. Autoclave maintenance 
2. Static sterilizer maintenance 
3. Distilled Water maintenance 
4. Lab upkeep 
5. Main Trap in Compressor Room-monthly 
6. Replace plaster Trap -when full 
7. Perform and document spore test for autoclaves Perform and document spore test for autoclaves 
8. Check Oxygen tanks weekly 

Qualifications

1. High school diploma 
2. Graduated from an accredited Dental Assistant program
3. X-ray certification
4. At least three years of experience as a Dental Assistant-preferred 
5. Must have current CPR certification and Hep B Vaccination
6. Be fully trained and competent in digital x-ray and electronic health record software programs. 
7. Must comply with all OSHA and CDC requirements.
8. A team player with excellent attitude and extremely patient friendly. 

Working conditions

Hazard and Atmospheric Conditions

• Exposure to Fumes
• Exposure to Loud Noise
• Mists or Gases
• Exposure to Mechanical Hazards

Additional Special Working Conditions:

High exposure to blood borne pathogens and communicable diseases

Requirements

Physical requirements

Lifting Requirements

• Light: exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. The use of arm and/or leg control requires force greater than sedentary, but worker still sits majority of time.

Physical Requirements

•  Stand or Sit (stationary position)
•  Walk
•  Use hands or fingers to handle or feel (operate, activate, prepare, inspect, position)
•  Climb (stairs/ladders)
•  Talk/Hear (communicate, converse, convey, express/exchange information)
•  See (detect, identify, recognize, inspect, assess) 
•  Pushing or Pulling
•  Repetitive Motion
•  Reaching (high or low)
• Kneel, Stoop, Crouch or Crawl (position self, move)

Ad