Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Dental Assistant:

• Location Roxbury, MA (Fully Onsite)
• Salary: $23 to $25/hr

You are a caring, hard-working Dental Assistant who thrives in a team environment and is committed to excellence.

The Dimock Center is a federally qualified community health center that heals and uplifts individuals, families and communities. Our vision is to redefine the model of a healthy community by creating equitable access to comprehensive health care and education. We promote a culture of respect, excellence, equal opportunity, and commitment to our employees and the communities we serve.

Our Health Center offers a range of primary and specialty health care for adults and children. We provide specialized clinics, Eye Care, Dental, Pediatrics, and OB/GYN.

Our Dental team is committed to providing quality treatment for patients of all ages, including specialty pediatric dental care. We work closely with primary care providers across Dimock’s campus to support patients and families – from Pediatrics and Behavioral Health to Child and Family Services, to ensure that dental health plays a role in all patients’ lives.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective: This position under the general supervision of a Dentist in a clinical care setting and assists the Dentist in providing dental treatment.

Essential Functions

• Prepare and maintain dental instruments, supplies and equipment

• Collect and record patient health histories and chart forms

• Patient management during dental procedures

• Use protective eyewear, mask, gloves (PPE) and gowns while working

• Instrument transfer 4 handed dentistry

• Dental procedure isolation techniques

• Preparation of dental materials, cements, amalgam, composite, impression materials, etc.

• Anticipate all of the Dentist’s needs

• Tray set ups prepared correctly for the next days schedule / Schedule checked with Dentist

• Ensure instruments are always free of debris and properly sterilized

• Check reception room / ECW for patient arrival – Seat patients in treatment room on time.

• Assume responsibility for the maintenance of the dental operatory and all equipment

• Ensure use of downtime to clean, stocked operatories; routinely clean and stock operatory

• Attend and participate in staff meetings

• Adhere to dress code and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirement

• Demonstrate dental charting proficiency and assist the Dentist/provider

• Prevention and management of dental medical emergencies

• Inventory control and management

• Take quality digital radiographs, with few cone cuts, overlap and artifacts

• Use good radiation hygiene/ wear your radiation badge monitor at all times / Patient well covered with lead aprons.

• Take impressions for study casts, athletic mouth guards and custom trays

• Perform laboratory procedures neatly and efficiently, pour models with no bubbles, properly trim models, polish dental prosthesis and make vac-u-press forms

• Manage the dental office Infection Control Plan and Dental Logs to meet OSHA, CDC and ADA standards

• Dental treatment room disinfection

• Order dental supplies

• Place calls to patients, labs and other agencies as needed

• Polish teeth to remove stains and soft deposits

• Apply topical fluoride and varnishes

• Apple pit and fissure sealants

• Remove surgical sutures

• Pre-select orthodontic bands

• Place and remove orthodontic bands

• Place and remove orthodontic ligature tie, place orthodontic separators

• Adapt temporary crowns

• Place topical medications

• Remove excess cement from fabricated restoration and orthodontic bands

Competencies

• Exhibits professional demeanor in tone of voice, appearance, and movement.
• Maintains a high standard of confidentiality regarding the patients, visitors, and co-workers.
• Demonstrates serious effort to improve job performance.
• Shows ability to prioritize responsibilities in order to achieve desired results in required time frame.
• Takes responsibility for delivery of services as part of team effort in unit/department.
• Takes initiative in making suggestions for improvement of services.
• Meets deadlines without causing undue disruption.
• Utilizes human resources, time, and supplies efficiently.
• Work Environment
• Maintain a clean, respectful and friendly work environment.
• Mutual respect and tolerance are important. Any form of insubordination and bullying is not acceptable.

Employees are expected to be on time, sufficient notice should be given if absent from work.

Physical Demands

• Light (requires lifting 20 lbs., with frequent carrying of up to 20 lbs.)
• Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
• Clinical Position involves patient care and management.
• Full time position (37.5 hours per week). Dental assistants are assigned to a dentist, they are required to follow their respective dentist’s schedule. They may need to work some Saturdays, if needed.

Required Education and Experience

• Requires a minimum of one year of experience working as a dental assistant.
• Dental assistant certificate
• On the Job training or Certification in Dental Assisting, CPR and First Aid Certification within 90 days of hire.

Other Duties

Note this job description is not designed to cover a comprehensive listing of duties that are required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.