Dental Assistant - 995144

Nova Southeastern University (NSU), founded in 1964, is a not-for-profit, independent university known for academic excellence and innovation. NSU offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including tuition waiver, retirement plan, and excellent medical and dental plans.

About the Role

Provides hands-on support to students, residents, and faculty in assigned clinics; prepares patients for dental treatments and sets up operatories. May sterilize instruments.

Salary varies depending on years of experience as a dental assistant.

Responsibilities

• Provides chairside assistance for students, residents, and faculty in designated clinics.
• Plans the set-up of operatories, instruments, and materials according to scheduled procedures.
• Takes and processes digital x-rays and dental impressions.
• Assists with obtaining documents of patients’ dental history as well as overall health and medication history.
• Maintains operatories according to proper infection control protocols to ensure adherence to OSHA and infection control regulations.
• Enters data/patient information into electronic health record systems.
• Monitors inventory of dental supplies.
• May monitor oral sedation or general anesthesia procedures.
• May provide postoperative instructions as directed by the dentist.
• May assist with sterilization and dispensing of instruments.
• Completes special projects as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Level I: 1–2 years of experience working as a Dental Assistant in a dental office, or completion of an AA Dental Assisting Program.
• Level II: 2–4 years of experience working as a Dental Assistant in a dental office, or completion of an AA Dental Assisting Program plus 1+ years of experience.
• Level III: 4+ years of experience working as a Dental Assistant in a dental office, or completion of an AA Dental Assisting Program plus 2+ years of experience, or completion of a Hygiene or Dental degree.

Skills & Abilities

Knowledge

• General knowledge of infection control and OSHA protocols.
• Customer and personal service principles.
• Sterile techniques and special procedures.
• Inventory management practices.
• Four-handed dentistry.
• Proficient knowledge of x-ray techniques.
• General understanding of HIPAA.
• Proficient knowledge of MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access).

Skills

• Service orientation: actively looking for ways to help people.
• Complex problem solving: identifying issues and evaluating options.
• Judgment and decision making: weighing costs and benefits of actions.
• Time management: managing own time and others’ time.
• Active listening: understanding spoken information and asking appropriate questions.
• Speaking: conveying information effectively.

Abilities

• Manual dexterity: skillful, coordinated use of hands for precise movements.
• Oral comprehension and expression: understanding and communicating spoken information.
• Problem sensitivity: recognizing when something is wrong or likely to go wrong.
• Detail-oriented: paying attention to details and understanding cause/effect relationships.
• Confidentiality: maintaining confidential information.
• Multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to provide coverage in other areas/facilities.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Exposure to sharp instruments, disposable gloves, and personal protective equipment.
• Must be able to identify and understand speech.
• Must speak clearly so others can understand.
• Near vision: ability to see details at close range.
• Daily and/or overnight travel may be required.
• May be required to work nights or weekends.
• May be exposed to short, intermittent, or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing.
• May use equipment such as syringes, latex gloves, pens, pencils, and computer keyboards.

Certifications & Licensures

• Expanded Duties Certificate (preferred).
• Radiology Certificate or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Experience with EHR systems and dental terminology, preferably Axium dental software (preferred).