Dental Assistant

About the role

Practicing at GraceMed. If you are a healthcare professional, we appreciate your interest in practicing in a community health setting at GraceMed. This is a clinical environment where you can be part of a diverse team of professionals who come together to address the whole health of the patient. You'll make a difference you can see every day as you care for patients who are often high-risk because of their underserved status. You'll be fully supported by a staff and organization set up to let you focus on delivering care. And you'll be part of a team that has distinguished itself for its quality of care and outcomes. Reports to Dental Manager; does not supervise others. Essential role: Provides dental assistance to complement the dentist's role of delivering primary dental care services at GraceMed Health Clinic, Inc.

Responsibilities

• Prepares the patient for treatment, accesses dental records and provides instruments and materials needed during treatment procedures.
• Obtains and/or reviews patient and family history in dental record.
• Chaperones and assists dentists during exams and procedures.
• Returns or receives patient phone calls during office hours; performs triage of patients by phone or in office, assesses dental needs of patient and coordinates appropriate care or interventions and refers to licensed staff or providers as indicated.
• Maintains and stocks exam rooms.
• Cleans and sterilizes equipment and instruments.
• Provides post-treatment and oral health care instruction as requested.
• Takes impressions for study models/crowns/bridges/dentures/partial dentures, and when necessary, pours up models.
• Takes digital x-rays as directed by the dentist.
• Maintains clinical equipment and supplies.
• Performs direct patient care within the limits of his/her training and capabilities when the dentist is unavailable.
• Always maintain patient confidentiality.
• Assists in the development and documentation of protocols related to his/her job functions.
• Performs other appropriate duties as requested by supervisors.

Working conditions: Dental office environment. Multi-task oriented position including direct patient care may require sitting or standing for long periods. Bending, stooping, and lifting (up to 50 lbs) may be required. Must interact with dentists, dental hygienists, patients and other office personnel. Must possess socio-economic and cultural sensitivity. May involve contact with angry, upset or ill persons. Will involve potential exposure to blood and body fluids and other hazardous substances. Must have visual acuity and manual dexterity to assist with procedures, perform and interpret lab results, and interface with computer. Must have auditory acuity to handle phone calls and extensive patient interaction.