Dental Assistant II

Dental Assistant

The dental assistant reports to the Clinical Dental Supervisor of Samuels Sinclair Dental Center and/or its Practice Manager/Director. Under the clinical supervision of staff dentists. Follows established policies and procedures to assist dentists and dental hygienists. The dental center provides care to adult, intellectually disabled, pediatric and medically compromised patients. Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done. The core Success Factors include: Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

Responsibilities:

• Reviews scheduled procedures and prepares dental unit by setting up instruments, materials and supplies to be used.
• Updates and reviews signed and dated medical history of patient.
• Takes and monitors vital signs when indicated prior to treatment and during treatment.
• Prepares patient for treatment including draping, positioning and placement in appropriate protective device.
• Explains procedures to patients and answers questions to alleviate fears.
• Provides instruction regarding proper dental hygiene, post surgery care and denture care.
• Performs sealants for prevention of decay.
• Fabricate custom trays and record bases, pour and trim study models and fabricate night guards or stints.
• Processes laboratory shipments and receipts.
• Assists dentists and dental hygienists with a variety of dental and oral surgical procedures performed at the dental center and operating room including restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgery, periodontic and endodontic.
• Passes instruments and materials, suctions oral cavity and applies and holds retractors for proper exposure of treatment site, according to established procedures for fourhanded dentistry.
• Charts existing restorations and missing teeth.
• Discharges patients and provides proper follow-up instructions.
• Serves as liaison between group homes and/or parent and clinic for patient scheduling.
• Cleans treatment area, laboratory and equipment following procedures.
• Sterilizes instruments.
• Cleans and maintains a variety of equipment such as suction hose, autoclave and other dental and laboratory equipment.
• Maintains inventory of dental supplies.
• Utilizes computer terminal to enter charges for services and record Do Not Keep (DNK) appointments in patient 's clinical chart.
• Performs routine clerical duties as required such as record keeping, taking phone messages, scheduling patient visits, and confirming patient visits for the following two business day.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Basic Knowledge:

• Completion of an approved Dental Assistant program and certification by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. OR A Dental Assistant who has 3,500 hours of approved work experience and x-ray certified from an accredited program.
• Knowledge of dental assisting to include familiarity with four-handed dentistry procedures, instruments and equipment used in operative dentistry, periodontics, pedodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, and prosthodontics as well as knowledge of dental radiographic and laboratory procedures.
• Demonstrated clerical skills to perform office duties, including assisting the dentist and hygienist in record keeping on dental software.
• Demonstrated ability to operate office equipment such as computer system, fax machine, and copy machine.
• Interpersonal skills to deal effectively with dentists, families, guardians, group home staff and specialized population of patients to explain procedures, provide instruction regarding proper dental hygiene and alleviate fears.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout the Brown University Health with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
• Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS). Required to pass the Dental Assisting National Board within three (3) months from the date of hire.

Experience:

• General dental assisting experience, plus three to six months experience on the job to become familiar with department procedures.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:

• Works in both clinical and operating room setting where direct contact with elevated risk patients requires utilization of universal infection control procedures.
• Minimal exposure to radiation and materials routinely used in the practice of dentistry.
• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing when assisting with dental procedures.
• Participation in the behavior management and physical management of uncooperative patients in the context of providing dental care to maintain safety of the patient and staff.

Independent Action:

• Performs independently within the department 's policies and procedures.
• Refers complex problems to supervision when clarification or guidance is needed.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• None