Practice Assistant - AZ - Dental Institute

Practice Assistant - AZ - Dental Institute

The Practice Assistant in the College of Dental Medicine Arizona (CDMA) provides assistance to the dentist and student dentist when it relates to examining and treating patients. The Practice Assistant in the Dental Institute is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the CDMA's clinics, including the coordination of materials, equipment and supplies, answering patient phone calls, scheduling patient appointments, and retrieving and relaying patient phone messages to students and faculty. Incumbents in this position work in multiple areas within the CDMA's clinics on a rotational and/or specific assignment-based system. The Practice Assistant in the Dental Institute reports directly to the Practice Assistant Supervisor and must be able to adapt to work schedule changes based on the hours of the clinic.

The Practice Assistant in the Dental Institute will:

• Transfer dental instruments.
• Adjust equipment to proper position.
• Manipulate and transfer dental materials.
• Retract soft tissue.
• Evacuate the oral cavity of debris to maintain a clear field of operation.
• Make diagnostic quality radiographic images.
• Set up and maintain dental cubicles.
• Utilize aseptic techniques.
• Follow up on proper infection control guidelines.
• Demonstrate four-handed dentistry.
• Place rubber dams on teeth to isolate them for individual treatment.
• Prepare materials for making impressions and restorations and make casts of teeth and mouth from impressions.
• Make temporary crowns.

Bilingual/fluency in Spanish and English preferred. Assist with shelf organization for dispensary. Assist in the Sterilization Department, as needed. Dispense items to students and clinical instructors as needed. Assist with organization for dispensary and suites. Participate in Dental Clinic meetings. Assist in hygiene and emergencies when needed. Must be adaptable to shift changes. Other duties may be assigned.

The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. This individual must have the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner and must have regular, predictable, in-person attendance. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires a significant amount of interaction with the public and many internal customers and therefore, the individual must be able to develop a positive rapport effectively. The ability to maintain a professional demeanor, be detail oriented and promote a welcoming atmosphere is essential. The individual must have the ability to become familiar with Dental Software Management Systems. This position requires working knowledge of how to take radiographic series and be able to demonstrate radiographic techniques to students as needed.

High school diploma or GED required. Associate's or technical certification preferred. 1-3 years of dental clinical practice experience required. Must possess or be willing to obtain an X-Ray certification within 1 year of hire. Must possess or be willing to obtain BLS certificate or CPR certification within 120 days of hire. Registered Dental Assistant is preferred. Familiarity with OSHA guidelines. Experience working in a team and customer service-oriented environment. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Computer proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). Ability to become familiar with the Clinic Management System.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and sit. The employee must frequently lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is regularly required to push up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.