Dual Role Registered Dental Assistant

Medical Office Assistant/Dental Assistant

Provides medical office assistance according to established policies and procedures; greets patients and responds to inquiries; obtains necessary information for accurate billing; ensures patients have information necessary for registration process, follow-up appointments, and future communications. The Registration Representatives are the "voice" of the health centers and often give customers their first impression of CCHS. This position fields incoming calls and questions, referring callers to appropriate sources, transferring callers efficiently, and taking detailed and accurate messages for staff members.

Also works as a dental assistant to provide chair-side assistance to a licensed dentist and also performs other clerical duties to support the Clinic.

Key Responsibilities

1. Greets patients. Answers questions from patients, when possible, or refers questions to appropriate alternative source.

2. Facilitates completion of registration forms.

3. Obtains updated patient demographic information and enters it into the practice management information system.

4. Verifies insurance and PCP selection, if applicable.

5. Establishes method of payment and collects co-payment (s), deductibles and payment for insurance and/or sliding fee.

6. Schedules some outpatient consultations and procedures dictated by providers in accordance with insurance company guidelines.

7. Completes Daily Activity Reports at the end of the business day.

8. Counts monies collected and totals cash drawer at the end of each business day.

9. Schedules appointments via computer scheduling system, taking into account doctors' weekly schedules, including on-call schedules.

10. Takes detailed phone messages for administrators, dentists, hygienists, and other staff members, including date, time, and operator's initials; emails messages to managers from dental offices.

11. Schedules appointments and makes reminder calls for patient appointments and recall services within the health centers and dental centers.

12. Answers and routes all incoming telephone calls, ensuring callers are directed to appropriate location properly and quickly; uses overhead paging system effectively, when needed.

13. Generates and tracks dental referrals as indicated by the dentist.

14. Generates and tracks dental pre-authorizations.

15. Retracts patient's cheek, tongue and other tissue; removes water syringes.

16. Takes, exposes, and develops x-rays of the mouth, gums, jaws, and/or teeth.

17. Applies topical medications; places rubber dams in patient's mouth; removes excess cement from and adjacent to crowns, bridges, and orthodontic bands; places matrix bands; removes and replaces ligature wires; removes sutures.

18. Performs dietary and salivary analysis and infection control procedures.

19. Demonstrates oral care procedures and techniques; charts patient's mouth.

20. Flushes evacuation system with chemical cleaners.

21. Completes reports and maintains records.

22. Orders supplies and equipment and keeps accurate inventory; orders repairs on dental equipment; researches prices and equipment specifications.

23. Work at various locations as needed.

24. May perform other duties as required.

Expanded Functions

1. Practices coronal polishing; mechanically polishes restorations.

2. Places and removes temporary restorations.

3. Monitors patient while nitrous oxide is being administered.

4. Applies pit and fissure sealants.

Position Requirements

Education: High school diploma plus Registered Dental Assistant Program along with Expanded Functions education

Experience: One to two years experience performing fundamental and expanded duties of a registered dental assistant as outlined by the Tennessee State Board of Dentistry; experience completing dental radiographs and alginate impressions; and experience performing clerical duties associated with a dental office.

Licenses or Certifications: Registered to practice as an expanded function Dental Assistant as stipulated by the Laws and Administrative Rules of the Tennessee State Board of Dentistry. CPR Certification is required.

Mental Requirements

Level 1 Requires some concentration and normal attention. Generally, once the job is learned, the tasks can be performed more or less automatically.

X Level 2 Requires high periods of concentration intermittently and normal attention. Generally, even once the job is learned, tasks will require normal attention to deal with recurring variables.

Level 3 Requires a high level of concentration and high level of attention intermittently. Generally, the approach to tasks may be consistent, but the number of steps required and/or the number of variables involved creates the possibility of errors unless the incumbent pays close attention.

Physical Requirements

Activity Approximate % of Time Comments

Sitting 30% May sit while assisting dentist, working the front desk, or working on computer

Standing 30% Assisting the dentist, sterilizing instruments, taking x-rays, pulling files

Walking 40% Greeting patients, taking x-rays, getting supplies

100%

Approximate percentage of time spent lifting, pulling and/or pushing: 15%

Maximum number of pounds required (with or without assistance): 30 lbs.

Types of objects the incumbent is required to lift/pull/push. Patients in wheelchairs, boxes of supplies, moving the patient chair

Machines and Equipment Used:

Machines, Equipment, Tools Approximate % of Time Degree of Hand:Eye Coordination Required

1. Dental Chairs 50% High

2. Dental x-ray machine 50% High

3. Computers 50% High

4. Dental instruments 50% High

5. Autoclave 50% High

6. Processor 50% High

Approximate percentage of time incumbent spends in "on-the-job" travel, excluding commuting to regular work location: 25% travel between various work sites.

Working Conditions

Exposure to fumes from chemicals (developer fixer); intense light under the dental light; exposure to varying weather conditions when traveling between worksites; exposure to contagious and infectious disease; possible burns from the autoclave.