Dental Assistant

Essential duties and responsibilities of this position are described below and are subject to change by management, as may be necessitated by changes in business needs, contract requirements, accommodation requests or other reasons.

Job Summary:

The dental assistant is responsible for directly assisting the dentist to ensure smooth patient care in a correctional setting by preparing and organizing tools needed by the dentist to work on patient's care

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment room, patient, instruments, and materials.

• Performs procedures in compliance with the Dental Practice Act.
• Prepares treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols.
• Readies patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and draping patient.
• Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
• Assembles instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area, positioning instruments for dentist's access, suctioning, and passing instruments.
• Provides materials by selecting, mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
• Provides diagnostic information by exposing and developing radiographic studies and pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
• Maintains patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations and cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
• Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
• Educates patients by giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions.
• Documents dental care services by charting in patient records.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Ensures operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements, following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, and verifying receipt of supplies.
• Maintains dental's vehicle maintenance by performing proper vehicle routine inspections to ensure proper functioning and safety
• Conserves dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

• Other duties as assigned

Position Core Competencies

• Problem Solving: Acts collaboratively in resolving problems. Ability to present solutions rather than just identifying problems. Can acknowledge when one does not know something and is willing to take personal responsibility for finding a solution.
• Team Building: Works well with others and helps build a cohesive working environment. Helps others learn and shares knowledge. Respects diversity of the workplace and individuals' unique characteristics.
• Communication: Able to appropriately express opinions in written and verbal form. Clear and articulate when speaking with an individual or group and using audience-appropriate language. Listens to others.
• Effective Time Management: Organizes and prioritizes work by devoting adequate time and attention to individual tasks. Effectively plans meetings/keep appointments and multitask effectively.
• Attentive to Detail: Able to provide accurate and consistent work on a timely basis. Documents important to detail to ensure miscommunications are minimized.
• Accountability: Follows through on commitments and agreements. Demonstrated dependability. Taked responsibility for mistakes and missed deadlines. Communicated about progress on commitments.
• Stress Tolerance: Must be able to effectively handle stressful or adverse situations and work effectively under difficult conditions. Ability to remain calm while handling volatile, threatening, or emergency situations. Remains focused in spite of distractions and interruptions.

Education, Credentials, and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED certificatication or equivalent or greater
• One year dental assistant experience is required
• Certificate or evidence of completion of a dental assistant training program or other requirements that meet the criteria of the Dental Practice Act in the state of practice, in compliance with contract or applicable statutes is required
• A valid driver's license is required
• Must be able to pass a background check to maintain facility clearance

Physical Requirements:

• Works is usually performed in a clinical setting
• Must possess general good health and retain sufficient stamina, agility and visual and auditory necessary to perform all duties required. Physical activity includes walking, climbing, standing, sitting, bending, stooping, and carrying; repetitive activity: repetitive mental activity such as checking entries in a report, etc.
• Must be able to lift, carry, or push weight up to 40 pounds; which may include patients, medication carts, etc.
• Must be able to respond quickly to emergency situations within his/her scope of practice
• May be required to work throughout a large facility, grouping of facilities, or travel between multiple facilites
• Potention exposure to internal and external hazardous materials, including but not limited to: blood and blood borne pathogens, infectious/communicable diseases and physical injury from patients