Dental Assistant I

Assists Dentist and Dental Hygienist in the administration of patient care at chair side.

Responsibilities

• Assists Dentist or Dental Hygienist in the performance of dental procedures.
• Identifies patient health care service requirements while being aware of age specific needs and protocols.
• Directs patient to operatory, obtains and records accurate routine patient vital signs.
• Prepares, processes, and mounts intra-oral and panoramic radiographs.
• Prepares patients for services being rendered by provider.
• Assists provider with positioning and passing instruments and performing suctioning.
• Assists provider in examination of patients and gives instructions as directed by provider.
• Fills out all appropriate and necessary paperwork as well as ensures patient and provider signatures on paperwork.
• Completes necessary documentation in patients EDR and EHR chart. Maintains updated treatment plans for patients.
• Takes preliminary impressions and/or prepares models.
• Cleans, stocks, and prepares operatory stations between patients.
• Performs sterilization of instruments and equipment in a timely manner and per manufacturer's instructions for use.
• Complies with infection control policies and protocols.
• Stocks supply carts as necessary.
• Accesses necessary charts for documentation and messages.
• Acts as a liaison between providers and other care givers.
• Sends Prior authorization tasks.
• Answers phone calls, tasks, and returns any necessary phone calls in a timely manner.
• Assists with inventory control and laboratory service tracking.
• Calls and schedules patients for follow up services from laboratories.
• Answers phone calls and takes messages. Returns patient calls as directed by provider.
• Ensures operation of dental equipment by reporting equipment malfunctions and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Travels to any location as needed.
• Works extended hours as needed. Works assigned weekends as required.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Two plus years of experience as a dental assistant; OR one or more of the following:
  • Dental assistant diploma from an accredited school
  • NELDA Certificate from DANB
  • Registered Dental Assistant certification
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Fingerprint Clearance Card within 3 months of hire.
• DANB Radiation Health and Safety Certification (signed up within 90 days of hire date and certified within the first year of hire).
• Coronal Polish Certification (signed up within 90 days of hire date and certified within 6 months of hire).
• Driver's License and Proof of Insurance may be required if requesting mileage reimbursement.

Skills

• Ability to comprehend and compose instructions, correspondence, and communications in English in both oral and written format.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish may be preferred based on current staffing patterns, patient population, and/or duty assignment.
• Ability to comprehend and understand dental terminology.
• Ability to perform basic medical math that may include the use of ratio/proportion, dosage calculation, metric and household equivalents, roman numerals, abbreviations, and general math including percentages, etc.
• Ability to gather data in an organized fashion from varied sources.
• Ability to perform a variety of assignments requiring independent judgment.
• Ability to resolve challenges and work under pressure.
• Knowledge of HIPAA rules and regulations.
• Computer literacy required.
• Knowledge of Electronic Health Records preferred.
• Familiarity with Electronic Dental Records and dental x-ray software preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to frequently exert enough force to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to frequently remain in a stationary position for up to two hours.
• Ability to constantly move about inside the workplace to assist patients, operate office or dental equipment, etc.
• Possesses hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to constantly operate computers, telephone, and other office machinery.
• Possesses close visual acuity necessary to accurately record and view information on a computer monitor, handwritten and typed documents.
• Ability to discern the nature of sounds at a normal spoken volume.
• Possesses a range of body motion and ability to exert enough force to lift and move adult and pediatric patients.

Work Environment & Conditions

• Work environment is typical of a health clinic setting with occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, and hazardous chemicals.
• Work frequently involves dental equipment and machinery with proximity to electrical current, and exposure to moving mechanical parts and some hazardous chemicals.
• Work requires reliable transportation as position requires occasional travel and extended hours to include early morning, evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• If hired for a float position, the position requires frequent travel to any dental center as needed.