Dental Back Office - Registered Dental Assistant

Dental assistants work under the supervision of dentists and are responsible for a wide range of tasks in the dental office, ranging from patient care to administrative duties to laboratory functions. The dental assistant position is flexible and varied in the dental office and requires a diverse set of skills: clinical, clerical, interpersonal, and technological.

Essential Functions

• Chair-side assisting:
  Assists the dentist in providing dental treatment
• Prepare and maintain dental instruments, supplies and equipment
• Collect and record patient health histories
• Take and record patient vital signs
• Patient management during dental procedures
• Instrument transfer
• Dental procedure isolation techniques
• Preparation of dental materials, cements, amalgam, composite, impression materials, etc.
• Dental charting
• Prevention and management of dental medical emergencies
• Inventory control and management

Expanded Functions

• Taking dental X‑rays
• Applying topical fluoride treatments
• Placing topical medications

Dental Infection Control Procedures

• Managing the dental office infection control plan to meet OSHA, CDC and ADA standards
• Instrument cleaning, sterilization/disinfection, and re‑circulation
• Dental treatment room disinfection

Dental Laboratory Procedures

• Pouring impressions to make stone and plaster models
• Model trimming
• Fabricating mouth guards, bleaching trays, fluoride trays, and custom impression trays

Patient and Community Education

• Delivering patient personal oral care instructions
• Explaining the treatment plan that the dentist has decided upon
• Delivering community dental health presentations
• Planning and setting‑up health fair booths

Assisting with Front Office Duties

• Scheduling and confirming appointments
• Handling patient reception
• Managing patient records
• Managing business records
• Following accounting/bookkeeping procedures
• Processing patient insurance
• Preparing written business communications
• Handling marketing for the dental department

Additional Duties

• Assisting patients with filling out forms and other services they may need
• Interpreting for patients, providers, and staff as needed
• Maintaining full and productive schedules for dental providers
• Traveling to other locations as needed
• Participating in meetings and training sessions
• Working collaboratively with other departments
• Use of Electronic Health Records to deliver care

Non‑Essential Functions

As directed by the Dental Director, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives.

Professional Requirements

Adhere to dress code, appearance is neat and clean. Maintain current license, DEA registration and BLS certification. Maintain patient confidentiality at all times. Report to work on time and as scheduled. Maintain regulatory requirements, including all state, federal and local regulations. Represent the organization in a positive and professional manner at all times. Comply with all organizational policies and standards regarding ethical business practices.

Communicate the mission, ethics and goals of the organization. Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.

Qualifications

Successful completion of a dental assistant program plus one year of experience. Successful completion of a radiation safety course and CPR certification required.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Requires a comprehensive knowledge in dental assisting. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Knowledge of the principles and practice of modern dentistry as related to public health organizations and community health programs. Excellent people skills, with an ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team. Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to corporate mission.

Flexible and able to multitask; can work within an ambiguous, fast‑moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities. Must be able to read, write English and Spanish. Must have the capability to perform basic mathematical skills. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of…