Job Title: Dental Assistant
Reports to: Lead Dental Assistant
Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly
Job Purpose: To deliver a full range of oral hygiene services and education to Heartland Health Center patient panel.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Check patients in for dental visits • Perform needed x-rays • Obtain vital signs (i.e., electric and manual blood pressure) • Perform needed blood glucose monitoring • Set up instruments for procedures and examinations • Assure all forms are completed for procedures • Review health history and transfer information to the clinical note completely and accurately • Assist dentists and/or dental hygienists in daily clinical and operational activities, including: • Use four-handed practices at the chair side • Provide proper instruments during procedures to the dentist • Make chart entries under the direction of the dentist or dental hygienist • Record all findings and treatment plans completely and accurately in the patients chart • Actively participate in keeping the provider on schedule • Prepare patients for procedures and ensure that appropriate instructions and equipment are arranged and ready • Maintain a clean oral working area prior to, during, and post-exams • Promote an atmosphere of good dental and general health by demonstrating good personal oral hygiene • Educate patients on techniques of flossing, brushing, overall oral health, and the role of the dental care team • Clean and sterilize instruments appropriately • Follows infection control protocols and standard operating procedures • Complete required daily, monthly, and annual equipment maintenance • Wears appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
Lab Duties:
• Pour and trim models • Fabricating trays • Remove the biohazard trash as needed • Answer patient inquiries related to pain and/or medications
Job Tasks and Requirements:
• Attend meetings as required • Joint Staff Department, etc. • Completes assigned trainings in timely manner • Perform other duties as assigned
Skills Required:
• Knowledge of HIPAA privacy rules and regulations • Enthusiasm for working as a member of a team in a rapidly changing environment • Willingness to educate patients and the community in oral healthcare and the role of the dental care team • Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize them to provide appropriate, efficient, and quality patient care • Excellent customer service skills and ability to interact with unsatisfied patients and coworkers effectively and respectfully • Ability to work well with children, elderly, and special needs patients • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills • Ability to anticipate and react calmly in emergency situations • Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients, coworkers, and the public • Ability to evaluate statistics and data and make appropriate recommendations • Ability to work under pressure • Ability to accurately document procedures in electronic records • Must be able to document in a neat, legible manner and be able to spell dental terminology correctly and use proficient grammar, spelling, and punctuation • Ability to follow written policies and procedures • Effective and efficient time management • Excellent organizational skills • Ability to work independently and use good judgment • Ability to communicate with others to effectively convey information • Knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) • Knowledge of standard office machines (copier, fax, multi-line phones, printers, scanners, etc.) • BLS Certification
Qualifications:
• High school diploma or equivalent is required • Any combination of education and work experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying • Spanish Bilingual preferred but not required • Must have and maintain CPR certification • Social and cultural sensitivity appropriate to ethnically and economically diverse participant and employee base • High energy, positive, ability to work autonomously, flexibility, teamwork, attention to detail, and high degree of initiative • Agrees to uphold Heartlands guiding values of Compassion, Respect, Collaboration, and Integrity • Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the job • Performs assigned clinic housekeeping
Working Conditions:
• Sits and walks throughout the day • May be exposed to infection and contagious diseases and unpleasant patient or unit elements • Handles emergency or crisis situations • Subject to many interruptions • Must be able to function in a high-stress environment • Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people • Requires working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions and outdoors • Requires the ability to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous people and other conflict situations • Physical requirements include repeating the same physical activities or mental activities over and over • Requires walking and standing • Requires using hands to handle control or feel objects, tools, or controls • Requires bending or twisting • Requires lifting equipment less than 100 lbs, loading, and unloading equipment
Hours: M - F from 7:30 am - 7:00 pm as needed, approximately 40 hours per week. Hours are approximate and may be altered by supervisors as needed.