Dental Assistant, Preventive and Restorative Sciences - Penn Dental Medicine

About the role

The Dental Assistant within Penn Dental Medicine's (PDM) Preventive and Restorative department will serve in the Division of Restorative Dentistry. This position will be expected to provide direct patient care as well as clinical, student, and resident support between two locations: onsite at PDM (located at 240 S. 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104) and at Public Health Management Corporation's (PHMC) Cedar campus (located at 501 S. 54th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143).

Responsibilities

• Prepares patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and obtaining medical history and patient vitals, and draping patient.
• Documents dental care services by charting in patient records.
• Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
• Provides materials by mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
• Expose and mount digital x-rays in appropriate digital templates. Take panoramic x-rays when necessary.
• Pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
• Cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
• Educate and motivate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions, presents and explains treatment plans to patients, demonstrates effective communication to bridge the gap between a pending treatment plan and a completed treatment plan, provides postoperative instructions and schedules subsequent visits.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Protects patient and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Performs sterilization cycles of instruments and monitors sterilizer, including spore testing and recording.
• Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
• Conserves dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results; monitors inventory; maintains proper usage and operations of equipment.
• Facilitates ordering of additional supply inventory when appropriate.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

Requirements

• Technical School, Certification, or training required beyond High School and minimum of 3 years of practical experience in a dental care facility or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in Pennsylvania under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must have passed the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam.
• Current CPR certification and BLS required.
• Experience in a higher education dental setting a plus.
• Employment clearance through the State of PA to work on/with children: as determined through Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and FBI Fingerprinting Database is required.
• Experience with AxiUm and Epic preferred, experience with other electronic health records required.

Qualifications

• Desired Experience & Position Expectations

Skills

• Technical School, Certification, or training required beyond High School and minimum of 3 years of practical experience in a dental care facility or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in Pennsylvania under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must have passed the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam.
• Current CPR certification and BLS required.
• Experience in a higher education dental setting a plus.
• Employment clearance through the State of PA to work on/with children: as determined through Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and FBI Fingerprinting Database is required.
• Experience with AxiUm and Epic preferred, experience with other electronic health records required.

Benefits

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.