Description
Position Summary:
Assists dentists and dental hygienists in providing oral care to patients. Assists in general operation, maintenance of inventory, and housekeeping as it pertains to infection and exposure control.
Job Responsibilities:
Customer Service:
- Greets, seats and inquiries about patient needs
- Informs provider of patient status including medical history, presenting complaints and concerns.
- Dismisses patient when provider has completed treatment
Assisting Techniques:
- Under the direction of the Dentist, pours models, trims study models and box impressions with wax.
- Assists in oral surgery, preventative, and restorative dentistry.
- Assists Dentist and Dental Hygienists at chair side by:
- Setting up appropriate trays and materials
- Preparing operatory
- Informing provider of patient status including medical history, presenting complaints and concerns
- Utilizing four-handed assisting technique
- Preparing and processes dental materials
- Completing simple dental repairs
Radiographs:
- Takes radiographs per order/protocol
- Mounts in computer prints using digital technology
- Maintains adequate radiograph supplies
- Takes accurate radiography including contrast, no cone cutting, etc.
- Records radiographs appropriately in patients electronic record.
Dental Record:
- Maintains and respects confidentiality
- Determines appropriateness of releasing professional information using established guidelines
- Utilizes appropriate dental terms and abbreviations
- Reviews health history
- Takes appropriate vital signs at every visit
- Takes dental/periodontal dictation as needed from the dentist or hygienist
- Documents patient complaints
- Documents radiographs taken
- Enters information into EHR
- Fills out appropriate consent forms and has ready for dentist to sign
NYSDOH and OSHA guidelines:
- Attends annual in-service program on hazardous substance and infection control.
- Proper handling of hazardous substances
- Proper handling of infectious waste
- Utilizes universal precautions/adhere to all exposure control protocols
- Wears appropriate personal protective equipment
- Proper handling of sharps and sharps containers
- Cleans and sterilizes equipment according to infection control/sterilization policies and procedures, and manufacturer's instructions for use
- Maintains current Red Cross/American Heart Association CPR Certification
Maintenance:
- Changes alginate tray solutions and ultrasonic solutions as needed.
- Cleans and disinfects operatories between patients
- Maintains a supply of tray set ups
- Keeps all logs: ie: autoclave, refrigerator, etc. up to date
- Cleans and lubricates high and slow speed hand pieces
- Cleans and disposes of burs according to procedure.
- Assists with the inventory control system and restocking the laboratory.
- Runs appropriate solution through HVE system at end of day
- Checks expiration dates on sterilized instruments
- Supply ordering and maintaining inventory
- Turns equipment on and off at the beginning and end of day
- Maintains a safe, clean, and orderly work area
Communication/Participation:
- Communicates effectively with patients, members of the dental team, administrative team and co-workers in other departments
- Actively participates in group problem solving
- Attends departmental and organizational meetings
- Participates in quality assurances and continuous improvement activities
- Any other reasonable requests from management
Requirements
Skills/Qualifications:
- Willingness to provide exceptional care
- Basic computer literacy
Education/Experience:
- High School diploma or equivalent.
- Prior dental experience preferred
- Completion of a recognized dental assisting program preferred