Dental Assistant

About the role

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: The Dental Assistant assists the dentist in many aspects of direct patient care and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Dental assistants at this level serve as staff dental assistants at the full performance level for more routine patient care and perform some complex patient procedures under general supervision of more experienced dental assistants or dental supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Show courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public
• Absorb and provide service recovery
• Chair Side Assisting:
• Set up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and clean dental unit for timely turnover
• Pass instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Keep operative field clear of debris and retract oral tissues effectively and comfortably
• Prepare dental medicaments and impression materials per manufacturer's instructions
• Accomplish all intra-operative procedures within standard infection control protocols
• Dental Imaging:
• Expose both standard and specialty dental imaging in a digital format
• Modify settings to achieve requested images
• Ensure diagnostic quality, accurate orientation, and exposure of images
• Utilize imaging safety techniques and minimize retakes
• Complete imaging requests within desired timeframe
• Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization:
• Demonstrate proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatory
• Disinfect oral appliances to prevent cross-contamination
• Prepare instruments for transfer to SPD for sterilization
• Follow Standard Operating Procedures for Reusable Medical Equipment
• Work closely with SPD to ensure instrument availability without delaying clinical care
• Clerical Functions:
• Fill gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments
• Initiate computerized progress notes
• Assist dentist in charting findings and treatment plans in patient records
• Information Management:
• Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information
• Follow computer security regulations
• Patient Safety:
• Modify care as necessary based on patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and positioning)
• Provide accurate and understandable instructions to patients
• Participate in patient identification and time-out per Joint Commission requirements
• Monitor patient condition during treatment and recovery
• Employee Education:
• Comply with Employee Education requirements
• Attend mandatory annual safety training sessions
• Dental Laboratory Functions:
• Pour impressions and prepare study models
• Make final denture impression trays and prepare bite rims
• Fabricate athletic mouth guards and bleaching trays
• Perform other dental laboratory functions as time and skill levels allow
• Direct Patient Care:
• Monitor patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter) and condition during invasive treatment and recovery
• Apply topical anesthetic at injection site
• Apply topical fluoride
• Make impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication
• Remove plaque and soft debris from removable prostheses
• Reusable Medical Equipment (RME):
• Knowledge of processes for RME as required by this position
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in using RME appropriate to this position

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, 1 year of experience at the next lower level, or 2 years of education above high school that includes completion of a dental assistant program accredited by CODA.
• GS-3: No additional experience or education beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: 1 year of experience at the next lower level, or 2 years of education above high school that includes completion of a dental assistant program accredited by CODA.
• GS-5: At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level, or successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA.