Dental Assistant

Department

BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences - Oral Health Research Staff

About the Department

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS), founded in 2005, strives to continue the legacy at the University of Chicago for being a leader in both research and training at the intersection of health and the social sciences. We foster innovation and collaboration, as well as excellence in research, scholarship, and training. CHeSS staff supports the writing and submission of grant applications and fundraising proposals, brainstorms and coordinates new research initiatives and projects, and provides expert research methods consultation during formative and operational phases of work.

Job Summary

The position is a hybrid role of a Dental Assistant (DA1) and mobile dental unit driver at The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Dental Research Study Clinic. The DA1 is an entry level position responsible for chairside assisting to dental providers providing dental care to patients at the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Dental Research Study Clinic at its main campus in Hyde Park as well as other study sites, including mobile dental units. The job will also provide driving services and operations support to the CHeSS Program in Oral Health mobile van and related University facilities. Using proficiency learned from on-the-job experience, operates, inspects, maintains, and repairs vehicles, including trucks, buses, and vans. Under a limited degree of supervision, delivers and transports people, supplies, records, and materials.

Responsibilities

• Helps patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.

• Prepares patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and draping patient.

• Schedules clinical appointments with patients in person and over the phone.

• Asks about the patient's medical history, blood pressure, and pulse.

• Documents measurements and treatments in the electronic dental record.

• Positions and passes instruments for dentist's access.

• Suctions patient saliva and debris during treatments.

• Maintains patient confidence by keeping information confidential.

• Provides patients with instructions for oral self-care following dental treatments.

• Teaches patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling).

• Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.

• Prepares treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols.

• Adheres to infection control and sterilization procedures and prepare instruments and equipment.

• Provides instrumentation by working with Central Sterile Processing to sterilize and deliver instruments to treatment area.

• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.

• Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.

• Supports, facilitates and coordinates daily study activities while working with investigators and other staff.

• Educates patients about study procedures to be performed, the study visit schedule, what to report between and during visits, and the risks and benefits of the procedures.

• Plans and coordinates the schedule for study non-clinical visits and activities.

• With guidance from study protocols, investigators, and staff, conducts screening and informed consent for potential study enrollees, administer study questionnaires/surveys with study enrollees, collect intraoral images of study enrollees.

• Protects patients and data confidentiality by ensuring security of research data and personal health information and compliance with federal regulations and sponsor protocols.

• Prepares for or participate in quality assurance audits under supervision or following specific protocol procedures.

• Participates in study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports.

• Recruit participants for other clinical research studies.

• Provides services at UCM Dental Research Study Clinic as well as affiliated study sites including mobile dental units across Chicagoland area, including on regular evening and weekend shifts.

• Drive the mobile unit to community locations, events and healthcare institutions in and around Chicagoland.

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