Dental Assistant

The Dental Assistant supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment room, patient, instruments, materials, and performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act. The Dental Assistant is responsible for the performance of chair side duties, assisting Dental Clinicians, including seating and preparing patients for treatment.

Primary Functions

1. Obtains and records vital signs, personal information and medical history.
2. Seats and prepares patients for treatments, arranges dental instruments, materials, medications and passes them to dental clinicians as needed.
3. Maintains cleanliness of oral operating area by the use of suction devices, water sprays cotton rolls and related equipment.
4. Sterilizes dental instruments in autoclaves, dry heat ovens or with chemical disinfectants, stores sterilized instruments and maintains asepsis during storage.
5. Exposes and processes dental x-ray films, mounts and labels films as indicated.
6. Provides instructions to patients in postoperative care, oral hygiene and the importance of preventive dentistry.
7. Be proficient in 4 handed Dentistry to include:

• Pre-procedural rinse
• Signed informed consent
• Radiographs completed and available
• Keep a dry field to include monitoring mouth and throat for excess saliva and clean mirror
• Maintain light/visibility to area of operation
• Patient inclined or reclined
• Room set up for a procedure or sterile field maintained.

8. Complete Radiographs

• Landmarks noted
• Complete periapical and obtain tooth apex
• Bitewings have open contacts & all posterior teeth identified
• Complete panorex diagnostic to include TMJ with no lead apron interference

9. Complete EMR documentation

• Demonstrate competency in EMR
• Enter CDT or ICD codes for all procedures performed (PA bitewing, type of exam, restorative or prosthetic type)
• Accurate clinical notes dictated by providers on exams or other dictated information

10.. Must complete Patient Safety Training curriculum.
11. Performs routine maintenance, lubricating and cleaning equipment.
12. Answers telephone and performs clerical duties as assigned.
13.. Schedule appointments and notify patients of upcoming or missed appointments.
14.. Contributes to the overall flow in the dental clinic via teamwork.
15. Completes 8-10 CEU's annually.
16. Performs related work as required.

About Swope Health Services:

Swope Health, the Kansas City region’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, has provided comprehensive primary care, dental care and mental health services in the Greater Kansas City area for more than 56 years. Recognized as a patient-centered medical home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, our commitment to an integrated model of healthcare aligns with our mission to improve community health and wellness through accessible, quality, comprehensive patient care.

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and The Joint Commission, we served nearly 56,000 patients in 2025 at 24 locations throughout the area, including Kansas City, Belton, Independence, North Kansas City, Hickman Mills, and Wyandotte and Leavenworth Counties in Kansas. Swope Health is a special place that cares for the people who need it most, wherever they are in the community.

As a Swope Health Associate you will be expected to help deliver on the Swope Health Promise of “We Make Care Visible”.

You will do this by V.I.S.I.B.L.E

1. Valuing every person

2. Impacting communities

3. Serving with professionalism

4. Inspiring Innovation

5. Believing that healthcare is a basic human right

6. Leading with accountability and praise

7. Empowering Excellence

Swope Health Services supports its team members with:
1. Medical benefits (including a Health Savings Account option), dental and vision
2. 401(k) retirement plan with company match
3. Company-paid benefits such as life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Short  and Long Term Disability
4. Flexible Spending Account
5. Paid Days Off beginning at 15 days annually
6. Nine annual company-paid holidays; One annual paid personal day

*Swope Health is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability.