PS Dental Assistant

Job Summary

This position will be located at the Wakara Way Clinic, where the University of Utah School of Dentistry provides care to local residents. This position assists dental students and attending dentists with routine as well as restorative and surgical procedures. The incumbent maintains and operates equipment and instruments under the direction of the department, and provides initial orientation for dental students.

This position may be required to access and administer medications within their scope of practice according to State Law. Care is appropriate to the population served. PROMISE standards of the organization. You are expected to encourage and foster a supportive and compassionate environment for all patients, students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve.

Disclaimer:
This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job. Employees may be required to assist in other areas of the clinic as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Assisting student and attending dentists with procedures by preparing, identifying, and/or providing appropriate instruments.
• Ordering, organizing, and restocking supplies.
• Performing routine cleaning, stocking, and equipment maintenance including but not limited to changing traps, maintaining water unit levels, cleaning chair bases, stocking supplies, and printing and stocking clinic forms.
• Assisting student dentists with the preparation of procedures, chairside assisting, and radiology positioning and technique.
• Disinfecting, lubricating, washing, wrapping, and sterilizing instruments, cassettes, and equipment for clinic use.
• Adhering to manufacturer and CDC guidelines for reprocessing instruments and equipment.
• Maintaining sterilization records and inventory reports.
• Providing technical support to students and faculty.
• Acting to ensure proper infection control, clinic policies, and processes are followed.
• Assisting in the tracking of clinic procedures through maintaining and/or entering data.
• Assisting in the orientation, education, and training of dental students on clinic procedures and protocols.
• Adhering to standards set by OSHA, HIPAA, FERPA, CODA and other standards set by the department.
• Participating and contributing in committees and discussions regarding clinic operations, materials, protocols, and/or quality assurance.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Demonstrated potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor in stressful or difficult situations.
• Ability to provide care appropriate to the patient demographic served.
• Ability to display active listening and verbalize empathy while developing relationships with patients, guests and coworkers.
• Ability to provide care as detailed in the department’s policies and procedures manual.
• Demonstrated excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational and follow-through skills.
• Ability to be highly motivated and pay attention to detail with a passion to provide excellent patient care in a fast paced and evolving environment.
• Ability to work efficiently and independently.
• Demonstrated computer skills and an ability and willingness to learn new applications and software, procedures and processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of HIPAA regulations to ensure that patient information is guarded and respected.
• Ability to navigate a facility with multiple providers and services.

Problem Solving:

• This position requires daily problem-solving skills and multi-tasking.
• Able to maintain professional demeanor in stressful or difficult situations.

Completion of Dental Assistant Course and one year chair-side experience or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience). Successful completion of Radiology Safety and Health exam or complete within six months of hire. Basic Life Support Health Care Provider card or obtained within one month of hire. Excellent human relations and effective communication skills also required.

Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department. This position is patient-sensitive and must fulfill all associated requirements. We protect our patients, coworkers, and community by requiring all patient-sensitive employees to be immunized according to CDC standards and hospital policy. Limited exemptions may be made for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs that object to vaccinations. Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

• Epic experience preferred.

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• How many months/years of Dental Assistant chair-side…