Dental Assistant, Preventive and Restorative Sciences - Penn Dental Medicine

Posted Job Title

Dental Assistant, Preventive and Restorative Sciences - Penn Dental Medicine

Dental Assistant B

The Dental Assistant within Penn Dental Medicine’s Preventive and Restorative department will serve in the Division of Restorative Dentistry. This position will be expected to provide direct patient care as well as clinical, student, and resident support between two locations: onsite at PDM (240 S. 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104) and at PHMC’s Cedar campus (501 S. 54th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143).

Patient Experience

• Prepare patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, obtaining medical history and vitals, and draping patient.
• Document dental care services by charting in patient records; provide information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
• Provide materials by mixing and placing materials on instruments and in the patient’s mouth.
• Expose and mount digital x‑rays in appropriate digital templates; take panoramic x‑rays when necessary.
• Provide diagnostic information by exposing digital radiographic studies; pour, trim, and polish study casts.
• Clean and polish removable appliances.
• Educate and motivate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions, presenting and explaining treatment plans, demonstrating effective communication, providing postoperative instructions, and scheduling subsequent visits.

Operations

• Maintain patient confidence and protect operations by keeping information confidential.
• Protect patient and employees by adhering to infection‑control policies and protocols.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Perform sterilization cycles of instruments and monitor sterilizer, including spore testing and recording.
• Help dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
• Conserve dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed, monitoring inventory, and facilitating ordering of additional supplies when appropriate.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Provide flexibility in scheduling; this position requires onsite dental assisting at two locations (240 S. 40th St and 501 S. 54th St).
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing and supporting assigned tasks.

• Technical school, certification, or training beyond high school and a minimum of 3 years of practical experience in a dental care facility or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• To legally operate dental x‑ray equipment and perform radiographic procedures in Pennsylvania under the supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must have passed the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety exam.
• Current CPR certification and BLS are required.
• Experience in a higher education dental setting is a plus.
• Employment clearance to work with children through Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Child Abuse Clearance, and FBI Fingerprinting is required.
• Experience with Axi Um and Epic is preferred; experience with other electronic health records is required.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

$16.83 - $22.12 Hourly Rate

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.