Dental Assistant

Job Summary

Entry‑level dental assistant position responsible for performing all delegable clinical dental assisting duties listed in Florida Statutes 466 and Administrative Rules 64B-5, including screening and preparing patients for treatment, assisting hygienists/dentists, educating patients, and processing instruments, with adherence to HIPAA, CDC, and OSHA standards. Team members receive continual training.

• Education and Training:
• High School diploma or GED required.
• Successful completion of an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Certificate (EFDA) Training course from an accredited dental assistant school or program, including dental radiology, is required.
• Current BLS certificate from an accredited AHA or American Red Cross provider.
• Nitrous oxide certification is preferred or willingness to obtain within 12 months of hire.
• Valid Florida driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Experience:
• Experience working with children is a plus.
• Experience dealing with underserved populations and cultural competency is a plus.
• Behavioral Management: Experience working with children and comfortable working with patients of all ages preferred or willing to train.
• Cultural
  
  Competency:
  
  Experience dealing with underserved populations and ability to relate to patients of all religions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds preferred.
• Good Communication
  
  Skills:
  
  Must have good people skills and communicate following the HFHC Core Values.
• Emotional Intelligence and Adaptability: Must be able to stay positive in stressful situations and deal professionally with unhappy, fearful, and confrontational individuals.
• Adherence to Policy and Procedures: Must have a good working knowledge of dental terminology, dental policies and procedures, oral health issues, or be willing to train. Team members must follow the organizational and department professional code of conduct.
• Time Management
  
  Skills:
  
  Must be able to organize and prioritize workload.
• General Office
  
  Skills:
  
  Competent in computers (Microsoft Office, EHR i.e., eCW), faxes, telephones, and copy machines.
• Teamwork: Must be team-oriented and maintain an effective, positive professional working relationship with all clinical and nonclinical staff, including but not limited to other Dental Assistants, Patient Service Representative, Senior Dental Staff, Dental Practice Manager, Hygienists, Dentists, and Dental Director.
• Proactive Attitude: Willing to train in additional duties and expanded functions to grow professionally within the organization.
• Flexibility and Attendance: Must be able to work flexible hours and at various sites as needed or assigned by the Dental Practice Manager and COO.
• Bilingual: Spanish speaker preferred.

• Chairside dental assisting tasks as allowed by the Florida Statutes and Administrative Rules, including:
• Identify patients using double identifiers (name and birth date).
• Document patients’ chief complaints in their own words.
• Collect and record medical history, medication list, allergies, surgeries, hospitalization, and social/dental history.
• Obtain and record patient vitals (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, glucose when applicable), height, weight as needed.
• Operate dental X‑ray equipment and take diagnostic X‑rays as prescribed by the dentist.
• Handle dental instruments: cleaning/oiling, bagging, sterilization/disinfection, re‑circulation per OSHA and CDC standards.
• Assist in educating patients and parents/guardians about oral hygiene, treatment options and plans, dental consent, and provide witness signatures prior to specialty procedures.
• Assist the dentist in 4‑handed dentistry: suction, handling materials, and transferring instruments.
• Perform preventative dental treatment (clinical crown polishing, flossing, sealant, fluoride placement) as delegated.
• Perform operatory disinfection before and after procedures.
• Record accurate dental charting of existing restorations, new caries, and planned restorations.
• Record dictated dental and periodontal charting for patients >18 years.
• Assist the dentist in completing exam and procedure documentation and closing procedure codes at the end of each visit.
• Complete necessary…