Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

This is a great opportunity for an experienced Dental Assistant to join our team and grow in your profession. The schedule will be four ten-hour shifts per week. We provide opportunities for job training and advancement in addition to generous PTO, health insurance, retirement plans, and more! Pre-employment drug and alcohol screening (including marijuana) is required for this position along with random screening.

Position Summary: Supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment room, patient, instruments, and materials; passing instruments and materials; performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act.

Essential Functions:

Dental Assistant I – PB 5

• Complete procedures as listed in compliance with the Michigan Dental Practice act.
• Prepare treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols.
• Prepare patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and draping patient.
• Provide information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
• Provide instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area; positioning instruments for dentist's access; suctioning; passing instruments.
• Provideneeded materials and supplies as directed by the supervising dentist.
• Provide diagnostic information by exposing and developing radiographic studies,pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
• Help dentist manage dental and medical emergencies bymaintainingC.P.R. certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
• Educate patients by giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions.
• Document dental care services by charting in patient recordsas directed by supervising dentist.
• Maintain patient confidence by keeping information confidential.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment bycomplying withprocedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Ensure operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs; maintainingequipment inventories; evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintain dental supplies inventory by checking stock todetermineinventory level;anticipatingneeded supplies; placing andexpeditingorders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.
• Conserve dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed toaccomplishjob results.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishingpersonal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Contribute to team effort byaccomplishingrelatedtasksas needed.

Dental Assistant II – PB 6

• Demonstrate proven and safe protocols for nitrous oxide and oxygen sedation, including the calculation of nitrous oxide gas used; pharmacology, biochemistry, and anatomy of nitrous oxide administration, emergency procedures, and the mechanics ofoperatinga nitrous unit.
• Demonstrate patient monitoring and proper use of special equipment.
• Understand airway management, including signs of an impending emergency.
• Demonstrate strategies for detecting Nitrous in the office environment.
• Understandindicationand contraindication for individual patient sedation.

And/Or

• Application of medicaments for the control or prevention of dental caries.
• Polish the coronal surface of teeth.

Dental Assistant III – PB 7

Utilize skills learned through PHS standing order competency training including but not limited to:

• Partial/Denture adjustments.
• Occlusal guard delivery and adjustments.
• Sealants.
• Topical anesthetic administration.
• Creation and cementation of temporary crowns.
• Final impressions/intraoral scanning.
• Suture removal.

Dental Assistant IV – PB 8

IHS Restorative Expanded Functions Dental Assistant:

• Understanding of tooth morphology/structure and the materials used to restore them.
• Place and finish Class I B amalgam, Class V B amalgam, Class I O amalgam, Class II amalgam, Class III composite, Class V composite.

Registered Dental Assistant:

• Placing, condensing, and carving amalgam restorations
• Removing sutures
• Cementing orthodontic bands or initial placement of orthodontic brackets and attachments for aligners
• Placing Class I resin bonded restorations, occlusal adjustment, finishing and polishing with non-tissue cutting slow speed rotary hand pieces.
• Taking final impression for indirect restoration and prosthesis including bite registration, intra-oral imaging, and in –office fabrication of restorations.
• Assistingandmonitoringthe administration of nitrous oxide analgesia.
• Placing and removing non-epinephrine retraction cords or materials.
• Drying endodontic canals with absorbent points.
• Applying cavity liners and bases.
• Taking impressions for intraoral appliances including bite registrations.
• Placing and removing matrices and wedges.
• Taking digital scans for final restoration or intra-oral appliances.
• Preliminary examination including performing pulp vitality testing.
• Adjusting and polishing contacts and occlusion ofindirectrestoration before cementation by the dentist.
• Applying desensitizing agents.
• Etching and placing adhesives before placement of orthodontic brackets and attachments for aligners.
• Applying anticariogenic agents including, but no limited to, sealants, fluoride varnish, fluoride applications.
• Instructing in the use and care of dental appliances.
• Placing and removing dental dam.
• Trial sizing of orthodontic bands.
• Temporary cementing and removing temporary crowns and bands.
• Taking impressions or digital scans for study and opposing models and matrices for temporary crowns and bridges.
• Fabricating temporary restorations, temporary crowns, and temporary bridges.
• Placing a nonmetallic temporary restoration with non-tissue cutting instruments.
• Applying nonprescription topical anesthetic.
• Removing excess temporary cement from supragingival surfaces of a tooth with hand instruments only.
• Polish assignedteeth with a slow-speed rotary handpieceimmediatelybefore an acid etch procedure.
• Polishing and contouring of sealants with a slow speed rotary hand pieceimmediatelyfollowing aprocedurefor occlusal adjustment.
• Provide nutritional counseling
• Dispense orthodontic aligners.

Indiana Expanded Function Dental Assistant:

• Rubber dam placement, resin, and amalgam restorative techniques for Class I, II, III, IV, and V restorations,as well asthe necessary matrixtechniquefor each restoration.

Dental Assistant V – PB 9

• Detect disease, supra, and subgingival calculus.
• Provide thorough ultrasonic scaling of teeth.
• Accurately code for periodontal and hygiene procedures.
• Recommend effective toothpastes, mouth rinses, and oral hygiene aids to patients.
• Motivate patients to improve plaque removal and periodontal health.

Non-Essential Functions:

• Fill in at the front desk, when necessary.
• Perform other related functions as assigned.

Equipment:

• Standard office equipment
• Systems used: MS Office Applications, Internet,and ElectronicDental Record

Position Requirements:

Dental Assistant I

• High School Diploma or GEDrequired.
• Previousdental experience ortrainingrequired.
• Dental Assistantwith x-ray certificationpreferred or achieve x-ray certification within 6 months ofemployment.
• Minimum of one (1) year experiencepreferred.
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills, and the ability to speak effectively and respond to questions.

Dental Assistant II

• All ofthe above plus:
• Completion of Nitrous Certification and/or Coronal Polishing andFluorideApplication Course.

Dental Assistant III

• All ofthe above plus:
• Completion of PHS Standing Order Competency training

Dental Assistant IV

• All ofthe above plus:
• Completion of IHS RestorativeCourse, orRegistered Dental Assistant in State of Michigan. Completion of IndianaEFDA training course.

Dental Assistant V

• All ofthe above plus:
• Completion of IHS Periodontal Expanded Function Dental Assistant course.

Indian Preference

• Pokagon Band Preference Code applies.

Physical Requirements:

• Work isgenerally sedentaryin nature and willfrequentlyrequire sitting, however standing and walking will occasionally be necessary.
• Frequently required to use hands and fingers tooperateequipment.
• Frequently required to talk and hear.

Work environment:

• Work in well-lit, heated, air-conditioned buildings.
• May be exposed to blood, bodytissueand fluids as well as hazardous substances/ chemicals.
• Exposure to noise of agitated patients, significant work pace/pressure.
• Occasional local travel may berequired.

Competencies:

• Client Focus
• Continuous Learning
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Exemplifying Integrity
• Planning and Organizing