Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Sterling Health Solutions, Inc.

Job Description

Title: Dental Assistant

Supervisor(s): Practice Manager

Department: Dental Services

Payroll Status: Non-Exempt

Effective Date: April 1, 2016

Job Summary

Responsible for assisting the dentist(s) and dental hygienist(s) in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients. Also responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Serves as dentist’s or dental hygienist’s chair-side assistant.
2. Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist or dental hygienist.
3. Exposes and develops dental radiographs in accordance with state regulations and law as well as the center’s established protocols.
4. Performs basic independent procedures such as dental procedures, equipment sterilization and disposal of materials as delegated and directed by the dentist in accordance with state regulation and law and established center protocols.
5. Prepares operatory for patient treatment as per Dental Department protocols and the dentist’s or dental hygienist’s directions.
6. Charts in patient record as necessary.
7. Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and protocols as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
8. Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
9. Follows established regulations and professional standards as required of the position.  Participates in and supports continuous quality improvement.
10. If Bilingual interprets as necessary
11. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Knowledge of the principles and practice of modern oral hygiene and periodontal patient care is necessary.
• Must be cognizant of the public health, social and economic factor which impact on the overall health, and more specifically the oral health of their patients.
• Must be able to creatively work with other healthcare professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal program effectiveness and patient benefit.
• The ability to creatively solve problems through individual and/or programmatic action is an important part of this position.
• Ability to operate an electronic dental records software system, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, text paging, Internet, and Intranet.

Credentials and Experience

Required

• Graduate of an accredited dental assistant program or three years of relevant chair-side assisting experience in a dental office.   Licensed in radiology in the appropriate practicing state.  Certification in coronal polishing in the appropriate practicing state, or successfully obtains by end of first year of employment.
• Expanded Duties Dental Assistant EDDA Certification

Credentials and Experience

Preferred

• Ability to speak Spanish desirable.
• Dentrix dental software experience

Special Requirements

Requires sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time.  Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours.  Requires frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Ability to work with a moderate noise level in the work environment is required.  

The above information is intended to describe the most important aspects of the job. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required in order to perform the work. The health center reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business need arises. Additionally, this job description is not intended as an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and the Center continues to maintain its status as an at-will employer. 

If the essential functions of this position cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner by the employee, reasonable accommodations may be made.