Orthodontic Assistant

About the Role

The Orthodontic Assistant will provide assistance to the residents, faculty and students in the treatment of dental patients within all clinics within the Department of Orthodontics in the School of Dentistry; this includes the Graduate Orthodontic Clinic, The Orthodontic screening clinic and the Orthodontic Faculty Practice.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with various routine and complex orthodontic dental procedures including assisting with bracket placements and adjustments, removing/replacing arch wires, fitting bands, taking x-rays using digital imaging and uploading x-rays and other patient related data into axium, pouring and trimming dental impressions, and performing 4 handed dentistry during procedures.
• Assisting with completing the E-charts and with the submissions of approved treatment plans for insurance verifications, welcoming and seating patients, and maintaining and disinfecting chairs between and after patient visits.
• Providing support during medical emergencies including monitoring emergency drug and oxygen supplies, and infection control and safety protocols, ordering and maintaining supplies, troubleshooting dental equipment and instruments, maintaining logs for equipment maintenance and safety required by the University, School, and Department for Infection Control, and assisting with the sterilization process.
• Filling in at the front desk 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• At least 1 year of experience as a Dental Assistant including experience with orthodontic procedures.
• Dental Assisting training and certificate from an accredited school.
• Dental Radiology Certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• CPR Certification.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

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.
• Ability to transport/ assist patients in wheelchairs into operatories and departures as needed.

Essential Duties

• Sterilize and maintain dental equipment and instruments. Run 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.
• Assist patients with recovery and departure.
• Coordinate appliances that are sent out to and received from dental laboratories. Coordinate follow-up for all appliances for patients who have appliances.
• Prepare data reports for the department.
• Ensures that repairs of equipment, furniture and facilities are handled in a timely matter.
• Perform chart documentation checks.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Coordinate purchasing of inventory and supplies and maintains related records.
• Taking, processing, and mounting of digital X-Rays.
• 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.

Pay

$21.63 to 24.60 per hour

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