Dental Assistant

About the role

Provides highly specialized dental assisting support to the providers of the WVU School of Dentistry.

Core duties and responsibilities

• Assists School of Dentistry providers during patient examination and treatment as instructed.
• Greets patients and prepares for exam by ensuring patients are properly seated, draped, and aligned for examination.
• Independently applies or assist in the application of rubber dam isolation.
• Transfers dental instruments and supplies to provider during treatment.
• Maintains a clean, dry oral operating field by using high velocity evacuation systems.
• Prepares, mixes, measures, and dispenses various materials as instructed during dental procedures.
• Places, exposes, and/or processes images.
• Ensures all equipment is clean, sanitized, and disinfected at all times.
• Obtains dental supplies and instruments from stock area.
• Prepares and arranges dental instruments, materials, and medications for use during patient care.
• Ensures compliance with all School of Dentistry, WVUH, and regulatory policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates regard for the dignity, respect, and safety of patients.
• Exhibits a caring and courteous attitude and represents the organization in a positive manner to all persons.
• Provides administrative support and assistance as needed in order to meet the operational needs of the clinics.

  Physical requirements

  • Position requires prolonged sitting in uncomfortable positions.
  • Position requires dexterity, mobility, and accuracy in four-handed chairside dental assisting.

  Working environment

  • High volume, fast-paced, high specialized patient care environment.
  • Exposure to hazardous materials, radiation, bodily fluids, and communicable diseases.

  Skills & Abilities

  • Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of applicable highly specialized patient care protocols.
  • Demonstrated ability to multi-task in a fast-paced highly specialized patient care environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to provide safe, high-quality patient care services.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize job duties.
  • Demonstrated ability for effective independent decision making.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage high stress, complex patient care situation.
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively adapt to changes in the workplace.
  • Demonstrated ability to adhere to policies, protocols, and applicable regulations.