DENTAL ASSISTANT

Schedule The contractor will normally work Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), normally between the hours of 7:30 AM and 4:00 PM, with a 30 minute unpaid lunch period. A session will equal one (1) hour. The facility is expected to require one (1) assistant, each will provide an average of eight (8) sessions per day. The Dental Assistant's schedule shall not exceed 40 hours per week. The actual hours of work will be determined by the Health Services Administrator. Education and Experience The Dental Assistant shall possess specialty training from a licensed dentist and/or certification from an accredited Dental Assistant school. Training must include dental radiology and radiology safety. The Dental Assistant shall be certified in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in accordance with the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association and have a minimum of two (2) years of experience providing Dental Assistant services. Bilingual oral communication skills and experience in a clinical correctional setting are desirable but not required. Responsibilities Assists Dental Officer in dental specialty sections: restorative, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, prosthetics, and examinations. Retrieves patient's records and escorts patients to proper dental specialty section; seats and prepares patient for attending Dental Officer. Assists Dental Officer by preparing dental instruments, essential materials, drugs, and medications. Passes instruments, retracts tissues, irrigates oral cavity, and operates aspirator. Observes patient's responses, and assists patient for dismissal from the Dental Clinic. Gives instructions for subsequent dental appointments. Makes necessary entries on dental treatment records (both electronic and paper records). Prepares dental treatment room for the next patient. Assists in the treatment of emergency cases. Provides dental health education. Performs dental prophylaxes (polishing of coronal portion of teeth) if the assistant is a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) or Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA). Performs dental screening examinations. Prepares patients for periodontal surgery. Completes dental and periodontal charting. Prepares, places, and removes packs. Places temporary fillings (RDA, EFDA). Places and removes rubber dams. Maintains dental equipment. Cleans, sharpens, and sterilizes instruments. Performs daily inspection of equipment and makes minor repairs. Reports defective equipment, or institutes corrective action. Uses dental hand instruments, mechanical instruments (including ultrasonic), oral hygiene aides and prophylaxis paste to provide necessary oral prophylactic services. Prepares entries for patient's records. Selects and applies medication in proper portion and anti‑cariogenic agents to surface of teeth. Applies medication prescribed by a Dental Officer to gingiva to promote healing. Fabricates and repairs dental prostheses and appliances under supervision. Performs procedures pursuant to fabrication and repair of complete denture prostheses and removable partial prostheses. Uses acrylic resins and porcelain as basic materials. Takes radiographs of patients using digital intraoral and panoramic dental radiography. Obtains diagnostic quality periapical, occlusal, lateral jaw, and TMJ radiographs. Correctly positions patient and sensor. Determines level of radiation intensity to minimize radiation exposure of patients. Processes and saves digital radiographs to patient medical records. Maintains proper infection control procedures in radiographic techniques. Sterilizes contaminated biological waste of dental clinic. Places and finishes dental restorations, including bases and liners. Make primary impressions and pours casts. Selects tooth shade for composite restorations and dentures. Maintains accurate sharps and instrument inventories. Maintains logs for surface disinfectants, autoclave maintenance, chair filters maintenance, and vacuum pump filters. Maintains sterilization logs. Specific directions related primarily to unusual treatment concerning emergency professional therapy are given by the attending dentist who explains changes in professional dental procedures that are available to resolve such problems, and render advice as needed. Guidelines consist of applicable professional practices and specific written and oral instructions. Equal Opportunity We are an equal opportunity employer and make employment decisions without regard to race, gender, disability or protected veteran status. #J-18808-Ljbffr