Dental Assistant II

Summary

The dental assistant reports to the Clinical Dental Supervisor of Samuels Sinclair Dental Center and/or its Practice Manager/Director. Under the clinical supervision of staff dentists, the assistant follows established policies and procedures to assist dentists and dental hygienists. The dental center provides care to adult, intellectually disabled, pediatric and medically compromised patients. Brown University Health employees are expected to demonstrate the organization’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, along with the core Success Factors of Instilling Trust and Value Differences, and Patient and Community Focus and Collaboration.

• Review scheduled procedures and prepare the dental unit by setting up instruments, materials, and supplies.
• Update and review signed and dated medical history of patients; take and monitor vital signs when indicated prior to and during treatment.
• Prepare patients for treatment, including draping, positioning, and placement in appropriate protective devices.
• Explain procedures to patients and answer questions to alleviate fears; provide instruction regarding proper dental hygiene, post‑surgery care, and denture care.
• Perform sealants for prevention of decay.
• Fabricate custom trays and record bases, pour and trim study models, and fabricate night guards or stents; process laboratory shipments and receipts.
• Assist dentists and hygienists with a variety of dental and oral surgical procedures performed at the dental center and operating room—including restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgery, periodontic, and endodontic procedures—by passing instruments and materials, suctioning the oral cavity, and applying and holding retractors for proper exposure of the treatment site according to four‑handed dentistry procedures.
• Chart existing restorations and missing teeth; discharge patients and provide proper follow‑up instructions.
• Serve as liaison between group homes and/or parents and the clinic for patient scheduling.
• Clean treatment areas, laboratory, and equipment following procedures; sterilize instruments; clean and maintain equipment such as suction hoses, autoclaves, and other dental and laboratory equipment.
• Maintain inventory of dental supplies; utilize computer terminal to enter charges for services and record Do Not Keep (DNK) appointments in the clinical chart.
• Perform routine clerical duties as required, such as record‑keeping, taking phone messages, scheduling patient visits, and confirming patient visits up to two business days in advance.
• Perform other related duties as required.

• Completion of an approved Dental Assistant program and certification by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., or a Dental Assistant with 3,500 hours of approved work experience and X‑ray certification from an accredited program.
• Knowledge of dental assisting, including familiarity with four‑handed dentistry procedures, instruments, and equipment used in operative dentistry, periodontics, pedodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, and prosthodontics, as well as dental radiographic and laboratory procedures.
• Demonstrated clerical skills to perform office duties, including assisting the dentist and hygienist in record‑keeping on dental software.
• Demonstrated ability to operate office equipment such as computer systems, fax machines, and copy machines.
• Interpersonal skills to deal effectively with dentists, families, guardians, group home staff, and specialized populations of patients to explain procedures, provide instruction regarding proper dental hygiene, and alleviate fears.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients throughout Brown University Health with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and cultural patterns at each step of the care process.
• Certified in Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Required to pass the Dental Assisting National Board within three (3) months from the date of hire.
• General dental assisting experience, plus three to six months of on‑the‑job experience to become familiar with department procedures.

Pay Range: $26.53 – $27.19

Brown University Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetics, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or marital status. Brown University Health is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital – 593 Eddy Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

Work Type: 8 am – 4:30 pm

Work Shift: Day

Driving

Required:

No

Union: International Brotherhood Teamsters