Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

Position Category: Hourly/Non exempt, 32-Hours, Tuesday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Position Supervisor: Dental Manager.

Position

Description:

A Dental Assistant may perform the following intra-oral procedures only under the direct supervision of the dentist.

Perform certain delegable duties pursuant to Board Rule Chapter 3 under the supervision of a dentist and are responsible for a wide range of tasks in the dental office, ranging from patient care to administrative duties to laboratory functions, clerical, and technological duties.

• Opening office every morning-start compressor, fill enzyme bath, turn on operatory equipment.
• Fill water bottles, turn on autoclave, start computers/scanner.
• Seat patients, check crossover of information on computer, review health histories, check for any chief complaint; take BP-pulse, alert dentist when patients are ready.
• Fill schedule if cancellations or broken appointments arise.
• Alert desk staff if dentist needs lab/chart time.
• Be present in room whenever dentist is in room.
• Suction per need, pass instruments, further explain procedures when asked, dismiss patient.
• Sterilize and disinfect room after each procedure.
• Organizing and laying out dental instruments for various procedures.
• Sterilize dental instruments.
• Stock room each evening.
• Keep lab cleaned, have lab cases in labeled boxes, make sure delivered lab work is in schedule
• Dispose of hazardous waste properly.
• Closing office:
  At end of day; shut off pumps (compressor), drain and clean enzyme ultrasonic, shut off auto clave, clean lab counters, close all operatory; shut off/lock all computers, scanner, and windows.
• Wear uniforms to work. Lab coats are in office for procedures that warrant them.
• Keep hair groomed properly above shoulder. Must wear gloves, face mask, eyewear, and protective clothing.
• Assist dental hygienist with schedule, cleanup, and setup when time warrants.
• Give oral health instructions.
• Take intra-oral photographs.
• Retract lips, cheek, tongue and other tissue parts.
• Irrigate and aspirate the oral cavity.
• Expose dental radiographs, but only if licensed as a Dental Radiographer pursuant to Title 32 M. R.S.
  
  A. §1100-1 through §1100-R.
• For instruction purposes, a dental assistant may demonstrate to a patient how the patient should place and remove removable prostheses, appliances or retainers.
• For the purpose of eliminating pain or discomfort, remove loose, broken or irritating orthodontic appliances.
• Take and pour impressions for casts.
• Change/replace dry socket packets after diagnosed and treatment planned by a dentist.
• Pour and trim dental models.

• Apply liquids, pastes and gel topical anesthetics.
• Place and remove rubber dams.
• Replacement of temporary crowns with temporary cement.
• Place and remove matrix bands.
• Place, hold or remove celluloid and other plastic strips prior to or subsequent to the placement of a filling by the dentist.
• Place and remove wedges.
• Apply cavity varnish.
• Deliver, but not condense or pack, amalgam or composite restoration material. Remove gingival retraction cord.
• Select and try in stainless steel or other preformed crowns for insertion by the dentist.
• Take impressions for single-arch athletic mouth guards and for custom fluoride trays.
• Irrigate and dry root canals.
• Isolate the operative field.
• Fabricate temporary crowns and bridges, limiting hand-piece rotary instrumentation used in the fabrication only for extra oral use, so long as the dentist checks the occlusion and fit prior to releasing the patient.

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Obtain a CPR certification.
• Ability to maintain harmonious relationships with staff, patients and professionals.
• Ability to meet the physical, mental and visual standards of the job.

• COMPREHENSION: Understands and applies non-routine verbal and/or written instructions.
• ORGANIZATION: Organize and prioritize individual work schedule to manage multiple tasks and/or projects.
• DECISION MAKING: Makes decisions that have an impact on the immediate work unit's operations and/or services.
• COMMUNICATION: Communicates and explains a variety of information, verbally, in writing, electronically.

• Lift/Carry 10-40 lbs.
• Walking/Standing/Bending/Kneeling/Squatting-independently mobile or with assistive devices.
• Visual Acuity: able to read with or without corrective lens and/or use braille.
• Ability to use interfaced communication devices (Electronic Medical Record, telephone, internet, etc.).