Dental Assistant Trainee

About the role

The purposes of this position are to provide housekeeping and clinical functions, and to help the dental team in the performance of their assigned tasks.

Responsibilities

• Greets and seats dental patients.
• Sets out patient's proper radiographs, chart, instruments, and materials for designated dental procedures.
• Assists patient in completing medical history.
• Records specific information on the patient's dental record as dictated by the dentist.
• Helps patients understand procedures to make appointments.
• Observes/ trains with higher grade dental assistants providing chairside assistance.
• Performs the following tasks under the guidance of higher grade dental assistant or dentist: passes instruments, arranges and mixes dental materials; operates oral evacuator; retracts cheek and tongue; provides post-operative instructions.
• Properly wears gloves, mask, protective eyewear and barrier garment for all dental procedures.
• Responsible for properly cleaning, packaging and sterilizing all dental instruments.
• Correctly organizes and sets up dental instruments, supplies and materials for each dental procedure.
• Uses appropriate infection control technique during set-up and clean-up.
• Maintains operatory unit and clinic areas in a clean, orderly, and aseptic manner.
• Provides routine maintenance on dental equipment.
• Informs supervisor about repairs or adjustments needed for equipment in the clinic.
• Properly stores dental instruments, supplies, materials and tray set-ups.
• Responsible for keeping assigned clinic area properly stocked with all necessary supplies, materials and instruments.
• Informs supervisor when inventory of supplies and materials are low.

Requirements

• Ability to learn and follow procedures such as receiving patients, ordering supplies, organizing tray set-ups and using aseptic technique.
• Ability to learn the use, care and storage of dental instruments, equipment and materials.
• Ability to learn infection control procedures and technique.
• Ability to interact with patients, to be able to explain procedures, give post-operative instructions, and make appointments.
• Ability to learn basic dental terminology and record keeping procedures to properly enter information in patient records.
• Dexterity to be able to pass instruments and materials, to suction and retract when assisting.

Skills

• Ability to learn and follow procedures such as receiving patients, ordering supplies, organizing tray set-ups and using aseptic technique.
• Ability to learn the use, care and storage of dental instruments, equipment and materials.
• Ability to learn infection control procedures and technique.
• Ability to interact with patients, to be able to explain procedures, give post-operative instructions, and make appointments.
• Ability to learn basic dental terminology and record keeping procedures to properly enter information in patient records.
• Dexterity to be able to pass instruments and materials, to suction and retract when assisting.

Qualifications

• High School Graduate or GED.
• Current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CRP).
• Able to complete forms in an orderly and accurate manner.
• Able to use sound judgment.
• Possess a calm disposition and the ability to work easily with people, particularly with children.
• Possess the ability to relate to the public in all areas.