Dental Assistant - Sonrisa Family Dental Georgia - Chicago, IL

Why this role exists Every visit at Sonrisa happens chairside. The dentist diagnoses and treats; the Dental Assistant makes that treatment possible — the room ready, the instruments sterile, the images taken right the first time, the patient calm and informed, the chart complete before the patient leaves. Across sixteen offices in Illinois and Florida, the assistant is the person the patient sees most and the person the dentist depends on most. This role exists so that every operatory runs safely, on time and to one standard, and so that every patient — child or adult, routine visit or surgery — leaves smiling. What you will do Chairside assisting Assist the dentist through the full range of general and family dentistry: restorative, endodontic, prosthodontic (crowns, bridges, dentures and partials), oral surgery and extractions, pediatric treatment, and orthodontic support where the office provides it. Anticipate the next instrument, material and step; pass, retract, suction and mix so the dentist never has to look away from the patient. Take accurate impressions and intraoral scans; pour, trim and prepare models; prepare and track lab cases so every case leaves and returns on time and is checked before the seat appointment. Fabricate temporary crowns, place and remove rubber dam, and perform the expanded functions you are trained and authorized to perform under Illinois law (see 'What you bring'). Radiography Expose and process digital radiographs — bitewings, periapicals, full-mouth series, panoramic and 3D/CBCT where installed — to a diagnostic standard, following Illinois radiation-safety requirements and Sonrisa's retake and shielding protocols. Keep your radiography certification current and on file with Human Resources before your first exposure and at every renewal. Sterilization and infection control Turn over and disinfect every operatory between patients; set up trays and equipment for the next procedure before the patient is seated. Clean, package, sterilize and store instruments according to CDC guidelines and Sonrisa's written protocol; run and log biological (spore) tests on schedule; keep sterilization logs complete and audit-ready. Follow OSHA bloodborne-pathogen and hazard-communication standards; wear and change personal protective equipment correctly; report any exposure or near-miss the same day. Patient care and education — the Sonrisa experience Greet and seat patients by name; review medical history and medications; take and record vital signs when the procedure or the patient's health calls for it, and alert the dentist to anything that changes the plan. Explain what will happen before it happens, in plain language, in English or Spanish as the patient prefers; keep children and anxious patients at ease. Give clear post-operative and home-care instructions, verbally and in writing, and confirm the patient understands them before they leave. Own patient concerns in the operatory — comfort, questions, follow-up — and hand off anything you cannot resolve to the dentist or Office Manager the same day. Charting, systems and compliance Chart procedures, materials, anesthetic, radiographs and notes in Dentrix Ascend accurately and completely before the patient leaves the chair, so the treating dentist can sign the note the same day and the claim goes out clean. Protect patient information under HIPAA in every conversation, screen and printout. Follow Sonrisa's treatment-plan and consent procedures; make sure signed consents and treatment plans are in the chart before treatment begins. Supplies, equipment and the office Maintain operatory and sterilization supply levels; count, order through the Office Manager, and receive and put away deliveries; no procedure waits on a missing item. Perform daily and weekly equipment maintenance (handpieces, lines, suction, autoclave, sensors) and report malfunctions immediately through the Office Manager. Support the front desk when the office needs it — confirming appointments, checking patients in or out, scheduling follow-up visits — so the day keeps moving. Across all of the above Live the Sonrisa Service Values — I am Sonrisa. Count on me. — with every patient, every teammate and every provider. Show up on time, prepared and in uniform; follow the schedule, the call-off procedure and the standards in the Employee Handbook. Required High school diploma or equivalent, and completion of a dental assisting program or at least one year of hands-on chairside experience in a dental office. Illinois dental radiography qualification — completion of an Illinois-approved dental radiography course (or the equivalent for Florida offices) — before exposing radiographs, or the ability to complete it within the first 90 days. Current CPR/BLS certification (or completion within 30 days of hire). Working knowledge of dental terminology, tooth anatomy and numbering, common procedures and materials, and instrument identification. Understanding of infection control, aseptic technique and sterilization procedures, and the discipline to follow them every time. Ability to learn and use Dentrix Ascend (or comparable dental practice-management software) for charting and imaging. Clear, kind communication with patients of all ages and with the team; comfort in a fast-paced, multi-provider office. Physical ability to stand and sit for extended periods, lift up to 25 pounds, and work with fine hand instruments. Unquestioned integrity with patient information. Preferred DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) or Illinois expanded-function training (coronal polishing, sealants, nitrous-oxide monitoring) under the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Experience in pediatric dentistry, oral surgery, endodontics or orthodontics. Bilingual English/Spanish. Experience with digital impressions/intraoral scanners and CBCT imaging. Experience in a multi-office group and willingness to float between nearby offices. Join our team to make a meaningful difference in patients' oral health by providing compassionate care supported by technical expertise and professional integrity! Pay: $20.00 - $26.00 per hour Benefits: Employee discount Health insurance Life insurance Paid sick time Paid time off Referral program Vision insurance Application Question(s): Are you willing to complete a 90-day probationary period during which your performance, attendance, and punctuality will be evaluated? Shift availability: Day Shift (Preferred) Ability to Commute: Chicago, IL 60608 (Required) Willingness to travel: 25% (Required) Work Location: In person

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