Dental Assistant - School of Dentistry

Job Summary

To assist professional dental staff and students in the examination, delivery, and maintenance of oral healthcare. To assist in the supervision of clinic personnel. To maintain dental equipment and supplies in accordance with established protocols, procedures, policies, and standards.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma/GED and successful completion of Dental Assistant Program or one (1) year of healthcare experience.

Certifications, Licenses, Or Registration

• Dental Assistant Radiology Permit from the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners.
• Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association or CPR from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association required within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Provides chairside assistance to dentists and/or dental hygienists in the performance of dental procedures.
• Prepares patients; sterilizes and disinfects instruments; sets up instrument trays; and prepares materials.
• Maintains duty schedules; monitors and supervises the performance of clinical personnel at remote sites, within residency programs, or across multiple clinic disciplines; and/or performs specialized assignments and tasks.
• Affords assistance in teaching dental students, dental assisting students, and dental hygiene students the principles of four-handed dentistry and dental assistant utilization.
• Processes radiographs.
• Maintains dental equipment such as compressors, evacuator systems, radiographic developing equipment, sterilizers, and light-curing units.
• Instructs patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
• Maintains safety, environmental, and infection control standards.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Frequent exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold.
• Frequent handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment.
• Frequent exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature.
• Constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality.
• Frequent bending, occasional lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds, frequent crouching/stooping, occasional kneeling, occasional pushing/pulling, constant reaching, constant sitting, frequent standing, frequent twisting, and occasional walking.