Dental Assistant

Neighborhood Health is an innovative network of 11 community health center in Nashville, Lebanon, and Gallatin Tennessee. We provide comprehensive primary care, integrated behavioral health, and dental services to almost 30,000 patients. Our patients primarily include immigrants, residents of public housing, individuals experiencing homelessness, and person living with addiction. As a federally qualified health center, we provide care without regard to health insurance or a patient's ability to pay. We also strive to improve our Patient Centered Medical Home model to ensure all patients get the right high-quality care, at the right place and the right time.

NATURE OF POSITION: The Dental Assistant is a member of the clinical team, providing technical assistance to dental professionals in provision of clinical dental care. The Dental Assistant performs such duties as preparing the patient for dental treatment, assisting the dentist at the chair in restorative dentistry and setting up the correct equipment for the dentist's use. The Dental Assistant sterilizes instruments, performs dental X-rays, and assists the dentist in laboratory work. This staff member also establishes a friendly, warm atmosphere for the patients, keeping them calm and at ease as much as possible. The dental assistant may also make appointments, complete all forms with the client and discuss payment options with the client. Must be able to work in a Patient Centered Medical Home model. Must facilitate partnerships between patients, physicians and health teams with focus on care coordination and integration of treatment internally and externally. Must work diligently to assure that services are accessible, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective. Must be committed to eliminating barriers to care that is centered on the needs and convenience of patients above all other factors.

The Healthy Smiles Student Loan Repayment Program provides educational loan repayment to qualified dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants in exchange for a service obligation to practice full-time at dental clinics located in medically underserved areas.

• Dentists receive up to $300,000 for a 3-year service obligation
• Hygienists receive up to $50,000 for a 2-year service obligation
• Dental assistants receive up to $20,000 for a 2-year service obligation

Practitioner Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
• Must be licensed to practice in Tennessee (dentists/hygienists).
• Must agree to use the Tennessee Dental Repayment Incentive Program funds only to repay qualifying educational loans.
• Must have no obligation for health professional services and have not breached a health professional contract.
• Must agree to pay damages for breach of service.
• Must not have a judgment lien against his/her property for a debt to the United States, any federal debt written off as non-collectible, or any federal service or payment obligation waived.
• Must be willing to commit to a service agreement contract for a minimum of three (3) years for dentists, and two (2) years for hygienists and assistants.
• Must provide services in a rural or medically underserved area of Tennessee.
• Must work full-time.

Dental Assistant will work in both the Lebanon and Nashville Dental Clinics. This is a Full-Time position working Monday through Friday weekly.

QUALIFICATIONS

• One year work experience as a Dental Assistant is preferred.
• Maintain current certification and TN license.
• Good computer, spelling, filing and other general office skills
• Good basic reading, writing and math skills
• Good basic technical knowledge and skills related to clinical duties
• Ability to speak clearly and to use tact, discretion and sensitivity with patients
• Ability to deal courteously and efficiently with providers, referral sources and other business representatives.
• Ability to use discretion in handling confidential information
• Commitment to UNHS vision.

SALARY GRADE AND CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt

RESPONSIBLE TO: Dental Director

RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Assists Dentist in the administration of treatment through four-handed practices at chairside.

• Maintains responsibility and obligation primarily to the dental practitioner to whom he/she is assigned.
• Assures that all instruments, charts, DVR's and radiographs are available in the operatory prior to the arrival of the patient.
• Provides proper instruments, at the correct time, in proper sequence for any given treatment procedure.
• Prepares dental materials correctly, as needed, and in an amount sufficient to meet the needs of the procedure but not so much as to allow wasting of materials.
• Anticipates the sequence of dental procedures and is prepared in advance of them so that the dentist may work as efficiently as possible.
• Maintains a clean oral working area.

B. Promotes an atmosphere supportive of good dental and general health.

• Demonstrates good personal oral hygiene (healthy gums, clean teeth) as an example to the patients.
• Questions each patient to ascertain home care status, either during breaks in the treatment or prior to the dentist's arrival.
• Whenever possible, instructs patients in techniques of flossing, brushing, and disclosing to help remedy any problems detected in 2b

C. Maintains a sterile and neat working environment.

• All chairside clean-up procedures are completed before any patient is seated.
• Any portions of the dental chair exposed to saliva or the oral cavity are disinfected before any patient is seated.
• Cleans and sterilizes instruments.
• Hand washing will take place in the presence of every patient.

D. Reviews the health history, makes chart entries under the direction of the operator, and fills out

DVR forms.

• The date of the health history review and any changes are entered on the treatment page and initialed by the assistant.
• All exam findings and treatments rendered are recorded completely and accurately in the patient's chart.
• Clinical information entered on the DVR's is completed by the dental assistant. Patients are dismissed with necessary records complete.

F. Assumes the responsibilities associated with any expanded duties that may be delegated by the

Dentist.

• Accepts delegation of only those duties within personal skill levels.
• Exposes X-ray films suitable for diagnostic purposes.
• Develops, mounts, and labels films so as to assure their use in diagnosis.
• Pours and trims models, fabricates trays and performs other lab duties.

G. Follows directions and responsibilities associated with the Dental Assistants' rotating assignments

as delegated.

• Performs assigned housekeeping' and maintains duty on required date and initials assignment
• Organizes and cleans lab and staff room on assigned date.
• Performs duties requested by practitioner to whom the assistant is assigned.

H. Acquaints the patient with the aspects of his dental visit and provides support and. compassion to

the patient when needed.
I. Operates as a member of a Health Care Team

• Maintains a warm and professional demeanor.
• Maintains cultural sensitivity to a diverse customer and team composition.
• Acts as a team member.
• Takes initiative in assisting other team members during lulls in one's assigned duties.
• Understands and complies with JCAHO patient safety standards including read-back, repeat orders, abbreviation use, etc.
• Understands and complies with MSDS and UNHS policies.
• Understands and complies with OSHA's Bloodborn Pathogen Standard and other OSHA safety measures.
• Understands and complies with infection-control precautions.
• Understands and complies with HIPAA and patient confidentiality standards.
• Understands and applies knowledge of age appropriate care.
• Keeps abreast of insurance and TennCare information as it affects services.
• Participates in continuing education and staff meetings and committees as requested.
• Related duties as assigned.

DECISION-MAKING: Moderate supervision to minimal with competency and experience
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

• Report to work at location as assigned
• Requires continual movement with limited lifting
• Have sufficient manual dexterity to operate telephone system, computer keyboard, copier, fax or other office or medical equipment
• Be sufficiently mobile (standing and reaching) to access and utilize required equipment, supplies and resource material with reasonable accommodation
• Possess sufficient vision and hearing acuity to see and hear callers, team members and patients with reasonable accommodation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None