Dental Assistant

Position Title:           Dental Assistant
Department:              Dental
Supervisor:               Dental Director
Hours per week:       Part-time work hours (less than 30 hours/week) 

Primary Function:
Under the direct supervision of a Dentist, assist during the examination and treatment of patients.

Duties & Responsibilities:
• Prepare patient for dental treatment and help patient feel comfortable before, during and after treatment.
• Educate patient on oral care/maintenance.
• May take patient medical history blood pressure and pulse.
• Arrange dental instruments, materials and medications in the order they are to be used according to the scheduled treatment.
• Keep oral operating areas clear during dental procedures.
• Prepare restorative materials and dental cements.
• Sterilize instruments using autoclaves or chemical disinfectants and keep updated and informed with current infection control and sterilization compliance standards.
• Keep an inventory of materials used and order supplies as needed.
• Perform routine maintenance such as lubricate equipment, sharpen dental hand instruments, replace expendable parts, and clean as necessary.
• Take, develop and mount X-rays.
• Prepare work in accordance with Patient Care Assessment (PCA) training, universal precautions and Massachusetts state laws and federal laws of patient confidentiality.
• Communicating with patients and suppliers (scheduling appointments, answering calls, ordering supplies and scheduling maintenance of equipment).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Basic Knowledge:

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Dental Assistant license
• Radiology Certification is required within a certain amount of time after starting job
• Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
• Good communication skills
• Bilingual language skills in English and Spanish or Portuguese is required

Experience & Qualifications:

• Trained in a dental assistant program or have an interest in Dentistry.
• Knowledge of dental terminology and procedures.

Independent Action:
Duties are generally proceduralized, allowing incumbent to perform independently, with periodic supervision to meet established schedules and predetermined priorities. Problems not clearly defined by written directives or instructions are reviewed with dentist to determine course of action.

Supervisory Responsibility:
None

Define Access Level to PHI:

Level 2 [Authorized to access patient demographic data with only minimal reference to treatment or diagnostic information as needed to function. Staff in this category level should confine the use of PHI to the minimum necessary required and should not access or read parts of the medical record not needed to perform assigned duties].