Orthodontic Assistant -Tri-Cities/Chester

Orthodontic Assistant

Virginia Family Dentistry is looking for an experienced Orthodontic Assistant to join our Tri-Cities/Chester team!

Pay range is $17-$25/hour based on experience.

Typical work hours are 8 am- 5 pm Monday-Thursday and 8 am-12pm Friday. Please note that this position travels between two locations.

The Orthodontic Assistant completes various clinical and administrative tasks, as well as educating patients about their treatment and oral hygiene. This includes preparing patients for treatment, taking x-rays and impressions, and changing orthodontic devices like wires and brackets. Must be willing to work in and be part of the larger team and communicate effectively with doctors, employees, and patients.

Essential Job Functions

• Chair side assist the doctor by passing instruments, aspirating intra-oral fluids, mixing materials and medicaments during examinations, treatment, or procedures.
• Place, change and remove elastic orthodontic separators, arch wires, brackets and ligature ties.
• Take intra-oral measurements for orthodontic procedures.
• Perform temporary cementation and removal of temporary crowns and orthodontic bands.
• Remove cement excess from supragingival surfaces of teeth.
• Check for loose orthodontic brackets and bands.
• Adjust clear aligners and retainers and arranges for repairs when necessary.
• Deliver aligners, attachments, and adjusted retainers and braces via indirect bonding techniques
• Take scans for diagnostic and working models.
• Remove all instruments and tools after use and processes them for sterilization, keeping sterilization area clean and orderly.
• Take x-rays and impressions of patients' teeth.
• Fabricate Essix retainers.
• Prepare and take patient molds.
• Assist in preparing trays and set up and clean up for all procedures.
• Assist or perform administrative duties when needed.
• Review the doctor's schedule daily, set up and prepare for patient appointments with needed supplies, lab cases, implants and other necessary items, assist doctor with procedures, help with x-rays, clean room between patients, and ensure room is stocked.
• Keep the schedule on time and communicate with the front desk if running behind.
• Bring each patient to the front desk with completed route slip and treatment plan.
• Maintain a lab tracking system and make sure all lab work is ready for the patients' appointment.
• Ensure instrument sterilization and proper infection control protocol.
• Help other team members by:
  1. Working with the doctor scheduler on schedules and maintaining the unscheduled list by following up with the patients and needed treatment.
  2. Tracking doctor's outstanding lab cases.
  3. Ordering and unpacking supplies.

Minimum Qualifications

-6 months or more of orthodontic experience or completion of a dental assisting program

-X-ray certification

-BLS certification

Competencies

-Excellent communication skills

-Time management

-Confidentiality

-Attention to detail

-Teamwork

Physical Requirements

Orthodontic Assistants perform physically demanding tasks that require prolonged standing, sitting in awkward positions, and repetitive hand movements. Need good hand-eye coordination and dexterity to handle small dental instruments, perform impressions, operate x-ray equipment and work in tight spaces within the patient's mouth. Must be able to stand and walk for long periods while assisting patients, and may require lifting and moving equipment. Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls and bend or twist their body. See details of objects that are less than a few feet away. Understand the speech of another person. Speak clearly so listeners can understand. Able to assist in lifting patients into the operatory chair from a wheelchair. Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm. Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects. Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls. Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects. Lift boxes of supplies.

Benefits

Virginia Family Dentistry's full-time employees enjoy a great benefits package including 401(k) profit sharing, dental and orthodontic care, health insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, paid uniforms, vision insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, wellness benefits, continuing education, and more!

About Virginia Family Dentistry

For 50 years, Virginia Family Dentistry has proudly served the greater Richmond area community. Although we have grown over the years, our individual offices have their own personality, pace, and style.

Our Core Values

• Never compromise quality care
• Treat everyone with respect and appreciation
• Communicate clearly, openly, and honestly
• Be positive, dependable, and efficient
• Take the time to train everyone
• Lead by example

Did you know Virginia Family Dentistry is dentist-owned? This means that decisions come directly from the doctors you work with. This structure puts the employees' voices and patients' needs first. With multiple locations and specialties, there are many opportunities for growth and career advancement.

This is a non-exempt, hourly position.

Virginia Family Dentistry is an equal opportunity employer.