Dental Assistant: Tamaqua, PA

Position Summary

The Dental Assistant will provide assistance to the students, residents and faculty in the treatment of dental patients in the School of Dentistry, specifically for our clinic in Tamaqua, PA. Primary responsibilities will be rotating along with other Dental Assistants between the clinic dispensary and walking the clinic floor to assist students. While working in the dispensary the Dental Assistant will be distributing and collecting instruments from students, maintaining supplies within the dispensary, and maintaining logs for equipment maintenance, infection control and safety protocols required by the University, School, and Department for Infection Control. While on the clinic floor the Dental Assistant will be responsible for assisting students including gathering additional supplies or equipment for them, taking x-rays using digital imaging, pouring and trimming dental impressions, and performing 4 handed dentistry. Other responsibilities will include supporting medical emergencies, monitoring emergency drug and oxygen supplies, monitor infection control and safety protocols, maintaining and disinfecting operatories between and after patient visits, uploading x-rays and other patient related data into axium, monitoring and ordering supplies, troubleshooting equipment and instruments, and assisting with the sterilization process. In addition, there will also be times where the Dental Assistant will be responsible for front desk operations when needed including greeting and checking patients into the clinic, scheduling and confirming appointments, creating and maintaining patient files, tracking and maintaining patient flow within the practice, answering phones, screening calls, taking messages, answering questions of a non-complex nature.

Required Education and Experience

• At least 6 months experience as a Dental Assistant.
• Dental Assisting training and certificate from an accredited school.
• Dental Radiology Certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• CPR Certification.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to obtain PA Child Abuse Clearances.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the standard and complex procedures performed in the clinics area of specialty.
• Demonstrated ability to provide chair-side assistance.
• Ability to utilize dental instruments, sterilizer, operatory equipment, infection control equipment, dental x-ray equipment, and all other standard dental equipment and instruments.
• Must be able to work with a diverse populations of students, faculty, staff, patients and other external contacts.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of dental terminology, procedures and diagnosis.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize projects and tasks and to respond to multiple requests.
• Demonstrated ability to work with potential pathogens during dental assisting and sterilization procedures.
• Ability to provide dental assisting within the legal and ethical boundaries set forth by the state.
• Demonstrate lifelong learning.
• Demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt and preserver during times of change in circumstances.
• Demonstrate a personal commitment to providing strong customer service.

Essential Duties

• Works with faculty and other supervisors to ensure that patient care is appropriate and efficient.
• Affords all regulatory compliance (HIPPA, OSHA, emergency preparedness, infection control, etc.) for the dental clinic.
• Sterilizes and maintains dental equipment and instruments. Runs appropriate tests to monitor their function.
• Maintains logs for equipment maintenance and for other safety logs required by the University, School, and Department.
• Maintain and disinfect operatories between and after patient visits.
• Coordinates appliances that are sent out to and received from dental laboratories. Coordinates follow-up for all appliances for patients who have appliances.
• Prepares data reports for the department.
• Ensures that repairs of equipment, furniture and facilities are handled in a timely manner.
• Performs chart documentation checks.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Coordinates purchasing of inventory and supplies and maintains related records.
• Chair side assisting for faculty and students as needed.
• Taking digital x-Rays and uploading into the electronic health record.
• Serve as information resource, resolves problems, and refers students, patients, staff, faculty and public to proper sources.
• Maintain clinic forms, handouts, and patient education materials.
• Utilize computer, printer, copying, autoclaves, ultrasonic units, operatory suction equipment, infection control materials, dental X-ray equipment and supplies, amalgamators, curing lights, and high and low speed dental hand pieces, etc.
• Must be able to perform similar functions in other departments within the school if needed.
• Front desk operations when needed including greeting and checking patients into the clinic, scheduling and confirming appointments, creating and maintaining patient files, tracking and maintaining patient flow within the practice, answering phones, screening calls, taking messages, answering questions of a non-complex nature.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, vision coverage.
• Paid time off 11 Paid Holidays.
• Tuition remission - eligible employees and their dependents can obtain a degree TUITION FREE.
• A generous retirement plan and so much more!

Pay

SALARY RANGE: $17.30 to $21.63 per hour

Schedule

Not specified

Qualifications

Not specified

Skills

Not specified

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, vision coverage.
• Paid time off 11 Paid Holidays.
• Tuition remission - eligible employees and their dependents can obtain a degree TUITION FREE.
• A generous retirement plan and so much more!