Dental Assistant

Principle Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Assists dentist during examination and treatment of patients.
2. Prepares patients for dental procedures, sterilizes and disinfects instruments, sets up instrument trays, prepares materials, and assists dentists during dental procedures.
3. Takes and records medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
4. Pours and trims study casts.
5. Cleans and polishes removable appliances.
6. Assists the dentist in the management of medical and dental emergencies.
7. Prepares dental supply orders as necessary anticipating the needs of the clinic.
8. Knowledgeable of dental office clinical equipment and individual maintenance/cleaning schedules for such equipment (autoclave, period-pro, various low and high-speed handpieces, etc.).
9. Keeps equipment service records on clinical dental equipment.
10. Provides post-operative instructions prescribed by the dentist.
11. Records treatment information in patient records as directed by the dentist.
12. May be called on to help at the front desk with scanning, confirming appointments, scheduling appointments, preparing bills and receiving payments for dental services, completing insurance forms, and maintaining clerical records, manually or using a computer.
13. Actively participates in staff meetings.
14. Works as part of a team
15. Perform tasks as asked by the Dental Practice Manager to ensure that the Clinic is operating efficiently.

In addition to the above, the Certified Dental Assistant may perform the following:

• Oral prophylaxis
• Instruct patient in oral hygiene
• Application of sealants
• Application of fluoride
• Expose dental diagnostic x-rays
• Make preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts
• Application of matrix bands
• Etching and bonding of tooth surfaces
• Fabrication of temporary restorations.

This position also requires the ability to use a computer, work at a computer workstation, view a CRT, and have some knowledge of a keyboard. 

From time to time, this position requires the ability to work long and arduous hours.