Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

FamilyCare Health Centers is looking for a Dental Assistant to join our Dental department at our Patrick Street offices.

Get to know us:

FamilyCare Health Centers can promise you an environment that not only encourages your best, but also rewards it with plenty of room to grow. We are a nationally recognized FQHC- federally qualified health center.

We operate more than 21 locations in four counties: Kanawha, Putnam, Cabell, and Boone, this also includes the School based locations and mobile units and we are continuing to grow.

FamilyCare is committed to providing comprehensive care leading to healthy communities where our patients live, work and go to school.

We are a family orientated business and we offer a competitive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision, HRA the option of FSA, Paid Holidays, Paid time off, Sick pay, 401k and Short Term Disability and Life Insurance.

Our full-time positions are primarily day shifts, Monday to Friday with a positive work life balance.

Physical Requirements:

The employee is regularly required to move, stand, walk, sit, talk, hear and smell. Frequent bending, twisting and position changes in order to examine and service patients. Excellent eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity to control dental instruments to provide dentist assistance and mixing and/or placing materials on dental tools, products and in mouths. The employee occasionally must lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Excellent aural ability in an environment with multiple noise and activity. Ability to tolerate bright overhead lights and noise of dental equipment. Occupational risk with exposure to communicable diseases, blood and/or body fluids, exposure to chemicals, injury from sharp and delicate equipment, radiation exposure and other conditions common to a clinical environment may routinely be encountered.

Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED certificate. Completed dental assistant training course from an approved CDA program, experience as a dental assistant preferred. If eligible, perform expanded duties for restorative and coronal polishing under the direct supervision of a dentist as defined by the WV Board of Dentistry.

Basic Function:

Assist dental provider render dental care through clinical duties and assist in dental health education to patients. Maintain equipment is in operating order and meet standards for health and safety, implement proper and current infection control duties as per clinic's procedures and protocol.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Escort patients to treatment area. Prepare and situate patients in dental chair. Have proper setup necessary for treatment of patients in operatories.

2. Obtain and record medical and dental histories, including allergies and medications. Take and record patient vital signs such as blood pressure readings.

3. Take necessary radiographic images such as bitewings, periapicals and panorex as directed by dental provider. Follow radiation safety procedures, standards and protocols.

4. Provide chairside assistance to dental provider with all types of patient treatment to include but not limited to operative, preventive, periodontal, endodontic, prosthodontics, and oral surgery procedures. Anticipate dental provider’s needs at all times.

5. Record treatment information on patient record.

6. Review treatment plans, consent forms, pre- and post-op instructions with patient per dental provider's directions.

7. Assist in patient dental health education.

8. Protect patients and co-workers by performing all functions in full compliance with infection control policies and protocol including but not limited to the use of personal protective equipment and standard precautions.

9. Maintain a safe and clean working environment. Maintain sanitation of instruments, equipment and operatories. Ensure proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance to the dental department policy as well as state and federal regulations.

10. Maintain all dental chairs and equipment such as high and slow speed handpieces, compressor, evacuator system, radiographic equipment, sterilizers, curing light units and amalgamators, in accordance with manufacturer's guidance. Assure maintenance of all equipment by maintaining written logs in accordance with dental department policy.

11. Assist in laboratory procedures. Maintain dental lab scripts as per established protocol and procedures.

12. Ensure adequate dental supplies needed for daily operations and maintain a list of item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.

13. Maintain patient confidentiality through HIPAA compliance.

14. Complies with the rules and regulations of expanded duties as established by the WV Board of Dentistry.

15. Complies with FamilyCare policies and procedures.

16. Assist with various office procedures relative to patient records, appointments, referrals and other related clerical functions, as time permits.

17. Demonstrate positive customer service and co-worker relations.

18. Attend and participate in staff meetings and requested committees. Participate in Community Health Programs such as health fairs, visiting daycare centers and schools and Head Start.

19. Travel as needed for meetings, additional training to perform other job functions.

20. Perform other related duties as assigned.

EOE