Licensed Dental Assistant

About the Job

Objective/Overview: This position is located in the U of M Community-University Health Care Center Dental Clinic (CHUCC). The employee will assist chairside with numerous dentists and dental students to provide quality patient care, sterilize instruments, complete forms, maintain inventory, and schedule patients. The licensed dental assistant will also participate on various quality initiatives and other committees as assigned.

Onsite position: This position will work 100% onsite in the CUHCC Dental Clinic. The schedule is Monday-Friday between the hours of 7:15am - 5:45pm.

Number of open positions: 1

Essential Functions:

• Chairside dental assistance using four-handed dentistry in diagnostic, endodontics, pedodontics, oral surgery, prosthodontics, and restorative procedures. (70%)
• General four-handed dentistry including expanded functions:
  • Take digital radiographs
  • Take and pour impressions, along with pulling the cast apart and also trimming it for study models
  • Mechanically polish teeth, place sealants, fabricate temporary crowns, fabricate trays for tooth bleaching, remove sutures, place and remove rubber dams
  • Monitor patients that are induced under nitrous oxide analgesia. (give N2O if applicable - you must have already taken the course*)
  • Turn Nitrous on/off and unplug when not in use
  • Chart and write in-progress notes using the S-O-A-P format (Subjective-Objective-Assessment and Procedure formatting) (Format used for clinical charting at CUHCC)
  • Prepare dental materials: cements, amalgam, composite, impression material, etc.
  • Take blood pressure as needed
  • Removing excess cement
  • Manage patients during dental procedures
  • Prepare lab slips for ordering lab work, and track receipt of cases
  • Schedule follow-up and hygiene appointments for patients
• Sterilize instruments/equipment and maintain a standard of infection control. (10%)
  • Meet all sterilization and documentation criteria set by OSHA, CDC, ADA and CUHCC protocol
  • Make sure all instruments and equipment go through proper sterilization and re-circulation
• Maintain inventory levels and stock operatories, check in new supplies. (10%)
  • Daily - stocking rooms, sterilization area, and any other area where we keep extra supplies
  • Writing supplies needed on "To be ordered list"
  • Notify supervisor when Nitrous and Oxygen tanks are low.
• Dental reception/scheduling (5%)
  • Schedule appointments
  • Greet patients
  • Answer phones/telephone techniques
  • Confirm all appointments one day ahead
  • Make sure we have labels or patient identification on all records/documents
  • Update phone and mailing addresses in EHS
  • Fax referrals as needed
• Participation in staff development, quality assurance, compliance, etc. (5%)
• Other duties as assigned

All required qualifications must be included in the application materials

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate from an accredited Dental Assistant course, including current certification and registration as a Dental Assistant in Minnesota.
• Current in CPR.
• Experience with electronic health records.
• This position requires a negative TB test, and a Hepatitis B vaccination.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a community clinic setting
• Verbal proficiency/bilingual in Somali, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese, or Spanish language.
• Experience in a dental office or clinic
• Successfully completed Nitrous Oxide Analgesia (N2O) course

CUHCC serves nearly 11,000 patients a year through over 55,000 visits annually. The patient population comes from over 12 different racial and ethnic groups that span five continents. CUHCC's mission is to seek health equity in our community by advancing the well-being of diverse people. Candidates must be able to adapt behaviors to others' styles; interact with people who have different values, cultures, or backgrounds;

be of service to difficult people; optimize the benefits of having a diverse workforce.

Teamwork is an essential skill to promote synergy within the organization. Candidates must be able to share due credit with coworkers; display enthusiasm and promote a friendly group working environment; work closely with other departments as necessary; support group decisions and solicit opinions from coworkers; display team spirit.

Candidates must have excellent communication skills and be able to clearly present information through the spoken or written word; read and interpret complex information; talk with customers or clients; listen well.

Staff is expected to demonstrate a high level of service delivery; do what is necessary to ensure customer satisfaction; deal with service failures and prioritize customer needs.

Pay Range: Between $31.16/hr (step
6) - $34.28/hr (step 11), which equates to between $64,812.80/annually - $71,302.40/annually for 1.0 FTE; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a…