Dental Assistant III

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is seeking a DENTAL ASSISTANT III. This position is for a chairside dental assistant in a busy residency program. Assistants work with various residents to provide a broad range of dental care to medically complex patients. The position will be responsible for providing support in various dental procedures including general dentistry, surgical procedures, and various types of anesthesia (nitrous, oral, and general). Chairside responsibilities include assisting in four handed dentistry, taking blood pressure, verbalizing instructions to patients, and obtaining patient consents. In addition to chairside responsibilities, assistants maintain rooms and equipment, take and process radiographs, and dispense supplies. During sedation procedures, assistants are responsible for attaching and detaching monitors, recognizing abnormal blood pressure and oxygen saturation readings, and reporting problems to residents/faculty. Assistants get to participate in a widely varying environment that includes access to general dentistry, inpatient hospital care, and dentistry in an OR setting. Work schedule is from 7:30-4:30 Monday-Friday.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Providing support in various dental procedures, assisting with surgical procedures, sedation, and anesthesia. Maintains surgery rooms and equipment, takes and processes radiographs of patients and dispenses supplies. Assists residents and faculty with anesthesia of all types to include conscious sedation, nitrous oxide and general anesthesia. Obtains patient consent. Attaches and detaches patient to monitor to access blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation, recognizes abnormal readings and reports problems to resident/faculty surgeon. Charts patient vital signs throughout procedure. Verbally communicates preoperative and post-operative instructions to patient. Performs a variety of clerical and administrative duties in support of department. Responds to the unique needs of all patients of all ages. Must be able to provide assistance with advanced general dentistry cases. Will also assist with surgical procedures requiring sedation and anesthesia.

(Hourly Rate: $16.00 - $20.50)

Graduate from an accredited Dental Assistant Program and two (2) years of related experience required. Work experience may substitute for education requirement.

Hard skills:

1. Assist in four handed dentistry

2. Taking blood pressure, recognize abnormal blood pressure and oxygen saturation readings, and report problems to residents/faculty

3. Take and process radiographs

4. Assists residents and faculty with anesthesia of all types to include conscious sedation, nitrous oxide and general anesthesia

5. Attach and detach monitors during sedation procedures

Soft skills:

1. Verbalize instructions to patients

2. Obtain patient consents

3. Maintain rooms and equipment

4. Dispense supplies

UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.