Dental Assistant

Dental Assistants are responsible for assisting the dentist in the clinical treatment of patients. This includes walk in the patients to the operating room ONLY after checked in by front desk, preparing patients, sterilizing and disinfecting instruments, setting instrument trays, preparing materials, and assisting dentist during dental procedures, cleaning the room after each procedure ,and setting it up for the next patient. Position must expose dental X-rays, record treatment information in patient records, and provide post-operative instructions as prescribed by dentists. Position must assist dentist in management of medical and dental emergencies. Dental assistants must pour, trim, and polish study casts, and instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.

• Possess knowledge of dental terminology.
• Understand and comply with policies and procedures associated with a dental practice.
• Understand and comply with HIPAA.
  
• Understand and comply with OSHA
• Understand and comply with the HITECH Act of 2009.
• Complete coursework in dental instruments and procedure.
• Maintain compliance with state dental practice requirements (i.e., X-ray requirements, OSHA training).
• Possess legible handwriting for notations in patient charts.
• Possess computer skills (Our office use Eaglesoft for charting, billing, etc).
• Maintain commitment to CE for career developments.
• Possess good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists, other staff members, and community.
• Use effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff.
• Possess knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat injuries, diseases and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventative health-care measures.

• Understand and use written information that may be presented in a variety of formats, such as text, tables, lists, figures, and diagrams; select reading strategies appropriate to the purpose, such as skimming for highlights, reading for detail, reading for meaning, and critical analysis.
  
• Organize and structure work for effective performance and goal attainment; set and balance priorities; anticipate obstacles; formulate plans consistent with available human, financial, and physical resources; modify plans or adjust priorities given changing goals and conditions.
  
• Maintain a positive attitude about the practice while demonstrating a positive attitude towards the patients and staff. Conduct pre-employment interviews by interacting with others in ways that are friendly, courteous, and tactful, and that demonstrate respect for individuals and cultural differences and for the attitudes and feelings of others.
• Change one's own behavior or work methods to adjust to other people or to changing situations or work demands; be receptive to new information, ideas, or strategies, to achieve goals.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with others to achieve goals by sharing or integrating ideas, knowledge, skills, information, support, resources, responsibilities, and recognition.
• Build consensus among individuals or groups by resolving conflicts, confrontations, and disagreements while maintaining productive working relationships.
• Identify own work and career interests, strengths, and limitations, pursue education, training, feedback, or other opportunities for learning and development; manage, direct, and monitor one's own learning and development.
• Attend to, receive, and correctly interpret verbal communication and directions through cues such as the content and context of the message and the tone, gestures, and facial expression of the speaker.
• Select, access, and use necessary information, data, and communications-related technologies to accomplish work activities; such technologies may include basic personal computer applications, telecommunications equipment, internet, electronic calculators, voice mail, email, facsimile machines, and copying equipment.
• Resolve any issues that may arise by obtaining facts and gathering information or data relevant to an issue at hand; advise management on any particular problems, questions, or issues through observation of events or situations, discussion with others, research, or retrieval of information from written or electronic sources; organize, integrate, analyze, and evaluate information as requested by managers to determine possible resolutions.
• Anticipate or identify problems and their causes; develop and analyze potential solutions or improvements using rational and logical processes or innovative and creative approaches when needed.
• Make decisions that consider relevant facts and information, potential risks, benefits, consequences and alternatives.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to sit for long periods of time. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. (When required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Patient Management

• Greet patients when they sign in and monitor arrival time.
  
• Set up treatment rooms for procedures.
  
• Escort patients to treatment rooms.
  
• Seat patients in treatment rooms.
  
• Show care and concern, and help patients feel comfortable.
  
• Obtain and review health histories according to office protocol.
  
• Ensure patients are always attended.
  
• Anticipate and assist dentist’s needs.
  
• Perform expanded functions and other tasks as assigned by the dentist.
  
• Mix dental materials.
  
• Ensure patients’ questions are answered thoroughly before they leave.
• Chart patients and record date, service rendered and any charges.
  
• Escort patients from the treatment room.
• Ensure proper treatment notes are recorded in patient’s chart.
• Perform clinical procedures as practice act allows and as directed by the dentist.
• Give patient instruction and demonstrate when necessary.
• Monitor patient flow.
• Notify Treatment Coordinator if a patient should be called in the evening after a difficult appointment.

Treatment Room Management and Sterilization

• Keep dental units ready, stocked and clean.
• Oversee cleanliness of the treatment room according to sterilization procedures.
• Disinfect treatment rooms according to OSHA regulations.
• Sterilize all instruments and handpieces according to OSHA regulations.
• Keep trays, instruments and treatment room drawers organized.
• Ensure that office sterilization procedures document is on display.
• Promptly send out and monitor all dental laboratory case.
• Implement the preventative maintenance/cleaning schedule for dental equipment.
• Maintain dental office emergency kits and nitrous and oxygen tank.
• Follow laboratory procedures according to office protocol.

Records Management

• Securely store and handle patient records in compliance with state and federal requirements, including the HIPAA privacy act and security regulations.
  
• Accurately file patient information.
  
• Arrange patient charts and radiographs for next day’s appointments.
  
• Track cases and referrals to and from other doctors.
• Assist in the administration of the recall system.

Inventory Management

• Monitor inventory and order dental office supplies as needed.
• Ensure that treatment rooms are stocked at all times.

Office Participation

• Help in other areas of the office when necessary (i.e., answering phones, unpacking supplies, completing insurance forms, moving former patient records, etc.)
  
• Be an active participant in team meetings.
  
• Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office.

Under the General Supervision of a Dentist - Based on the instruction given by a licensed dentist, but not requiring the physical presence of the supervising dentist during the performance of those procedures.

• Extra-oral duties or procedures specified by the supervising licensed dentist, provided that these duties or procedures meet the definition of a basic supportive procedure.
  
• Operate dental radiography equipment for the purpose of oral radiography if the dental assistant has completed an approved radiation safety course or passed a radiation safety exam.
  
• Perform intraoral and extraoral photography.

Direct Supervision of a Dentist – Supervision of dental procedures based on instructions given by a licensed dentist who must be physically present in the treatment facility during the performance of those procedures.

• Apply nonaerosol and noncaustic topical agents.
  
• Apply topical fluoride.
  
• Take intraoral impressions for all non-prosthodontic appliances.
  
• Place and remove rubber dams or other isolation devices.
• Remove post-extraction dressings after inspection of the surgical site by the supervising licensed dentist.
• Cure restorative or orthodontic materials in operative site with a light-curing device.