Dental Assistant II - Lowry Dental Clinic

Job Summary

The Dental Assistant I, under direct supervision, provides sub-professional dental work assisting dental providers in the care and treatment of dental patients. At the clinic level maintains the environment of care, manages daily schedules, and performs clinical supportive functions. Is able to support and travel to all Denver Health dental clinics to dental assist as needed. At the chairside level, assists at the dental chair, acquires quality radiographic images and diagnostic material, records and tracks patient data, provides excellent communication, and performs sound infection control practices and techniques. Proficient primarily in supporting recall and preventative dental exams. At the employee level promotes positive and professional interpersonal relationships and supports the team concept.

Essential Functions:
 

• At the Clinic Level:
  • Maintaining all environment of care areas, including equipment, dental materials, and stocking of supplies in all rooms to ensure that the clinic is functional and in good working order. i.e. (Completing champion duties, stocking rooms during downtime, and helping set up and breakdown rooms for other team members.) 
  • Reviews daily schedules to determine needs for the day for the TEAM and communicates adjustments for proper patient flow. i.e. (continuously observes schedule for changes throughout the day of, next day, and week. Scrubs schedule for the above during downtime.) 
  • Begin to learn time management and office flow.
  • Supports front office staff and leadership.
  (40%)

• At the Chair Side Level:
  • Communicates well with patients while greeting and seating patients in a timely manner.  
  • Completes all rooming task questions.
  • Acquires diagnostic and quality radiographic images for the providers with good visibility and contrast.
  • Provides chair side dental assistance to all providers
  • Properly handling of dental instruments and sterilization of needed equipment.
  • Proper Asepsis techniques and practices in the operatories
  • Follows OSHA, Joint Commission, EPA, and HIPAA regulations and guidelines. i.e.
  • Assist with all areas of Recall and Preventative Exams:
  ◦ Review PT chart and health history, relay information to doctor; health history updated yearly
  ◦ Begin to recognize caries risk and develop skill as it applies to fluoride treatment and radiograph periodicity.
  ◦ Complete prophy with disclosing agent, no evidence of disclosing solution or plaque left behind when finished.
  ◦ Educate patients and parents of recommended hygiene instructions.
  ◦ Begin to learn to treatment plan and sequence TX in order of priority (with dentist).
  ◦ Proper handoff to Patient Access Specialist (PAS); communicate next steps/patient status.
  • Detail oriented and perceptive to doctor and teammates needs
  • Maintains Dental Operatory.
  (50%)

• At the Employee Level:
  • Promotes positive interpersonal (customer) relationships with fellow employees, physicians, patients and visitors.
  • Treats these individuals with courtesy, dignity, empathy and respect; consistently displays courteous and respectful verbal and non-verbal communications.
  (10%)

Education:

• No High School Diploma and/or No GED

Work Experience:
 

• Less than 1 year of experience providing chair side assistance to a dentist in the examination and treatment of patients.

Licenses:
 

• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross required

• CDA-Certified Dental Assistant - DANB - Dental Assisting National Board Inc

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 

• Knowledge of dental materials such as composites, amalgam, impression materials, and Iso-dry.

• Knowledge of patient record maintenance procedures.

• Knowledge of OSHA, CDC, ADA Joint Commision safety guidelines.

• Skill in placing and positioning suction tubes and isolation devices in patients.

• Excellent customer service and communication skills.

• Ability to follow Dentist’s instructions.

• Works with front office to schedule patients.

• Calming, positive, and supportive chairside manner