Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

OVERVIEW: Assist dentists in providing professional dental services to all patients receiving services at the Lower Elwha Dental Clinic. Assuring quality of care is best practice, and that teamwork is evident and customers service is the goal.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB:

• Seat patient, adjusts chair, triage and prepares patient for dentist. Sets up treatment room with necessary equipment and supplies for each procedure. Breaks down, sterilizes rooms in timely manner for next patient.
• Performs four handed dentistry and full scope of chair side assisting.
• Ability to make patients feel at ease.
• Collects and records patient health histories, Chart exams for dentist and will perio chart for hygienist. (dental charting)
• Patient management during dental procedures.
• Calls in prescriptions per doctor and photocopies and files them when necessary.
• Releases patient with correct paperwork making sure they will get the correct follow-up appointment.
• Dental procedure isolation techniques.
• Prepares dental materials cements, amalgam, composite, impression materials, etc...
• Handles Lab cases and labs.
• Handles prevention and management of dental and medical emergencies.
• Inventory control and management, places orders, and maintains stock.
• Delivers patient personal oral care instructions including oral hygiene and post operative instructions.
• Delivers community dental health presentations and works with other programs.
• Plans, assembles, and facilitates health fair booths.
• Manages the dental office infection control plan to meet OSHA, and CDC standards.
• Handles instrument cleaning, sterilization/disinfection, re-circulation, and organizing.
• Performs dental treatment room disinfection.
• Takes dental x-rays, develops, mounts, and files in charts.
• Polishes the teeth to remove stains and soft deposits.
• Can provide child prophylaxis and can apply topical fluoride treatments.
• Takes impressions and bite registrations.
• Applies pit and fissure sealants.
• Places and removes periodontal dressings.
• Removes surgical sutures.
• Adaptation of temporary crowns.
• Places topical medications including the application of fluoride varnish and silver diamine fluoride under the direct supervision of the attending dentist.
• Takes blood pressure.
• Removes excess cement from fabricated restorations and orthodontic bands.
• Pours impressions to make stone and plaster models.
• Trims models, uses a lathe, custom tray and other duties in lab.
• Fabricates mouth guards, temporary crowns, custom impression trays and bleaching trays.
• Full scope Dental Assisting.
• Ability to construct dental charts, file, have basic computer skills, and a willingness to help the front desk when needed. Will need to learn, and know how it works with the labs, CHS, and Insurances so you can communicate with patients.
• Works well in a team setting, willing to help others, positive attitude, takes direction well
• Other duties as assigned.
• Assistants trained in Expanded Functions will be able to perform respective duties in perio or restorative under direct supervision of a dentist.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or GED.
• Minimum 5 years dental assisting experience or CDA.
• Must be willing to attend trainings pertinent to position.
• Current Washington State driver license and insurable under State of Washington.
• Knowledge of dental routines, terms, instruments, materials, and procedures, techniques of dental x-ray; dental charting; types of sterilization and sterile techniques; record keeping, organizing, lab techniques, clean, reliable, and flexible. Knowledge of OSHA standards.
• Ability to operate dental x-ray; cleaning a processor, sterilizer, suction lines; cold sterile and other dental equipment. Follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to follow department and Tribal policies and procedures.
• Ability to follow instructions and adhere to prescribed routines and practices.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to stand for long periods of time; bend, kneel, stoop, reaching with arms
• Must be able to be in awkward positions for periods of time while assisting
• Able to lift 30+ pounds

Immunization Requirements:

• All Health Department employees must be fully immunized against vaccine-preventable disease consistent with current IHS and CDC recommendations for health care workers.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

• Willing to train to meet qualifications for a highly motivated candidate.
• Person must be flexible and able to cope with change.
• Person must have self motivation in this key position. Must be able to recognize and complete tasks without direct supervision
• Must abide by the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe personnel policies and procedures and the Drug and Alcohol policy which could include pre-employment drug testing

As with all positions of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe this position is Indian Preference in hiring, in Accordance with P.L. 93-638.