Dental Assistant

Description

The Dental Assistant works with CBHSA's dentists and staff in providing quality dental services. The Dental Assistant is directly responsible to the Dental Director.

• Organize, maintain, and set up the operatories and sterilization room daily.
• Seat patients and review medical and dental history.
• Expose radiographs as determined by the dentist.
• Chart lesions and fillings for each patient’s record as dictated by the dentist.
• Clean/sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment. Sterilization of the operatories, instruments, and trays are to be completed after each patient.
• Maintain a clean operatory and equipment at all times.
• Assist the dentist in the following as needed:
• Restorative: preparation of restoration, condensing, contouring, light cure, polishing, checking occlusion, crown/bridge preparation, try-in and cementation of crown/bridge, etc.
• Surgical: suture placement and removal, packing extraction site, etc.
• Endodontic: preparing file lengths as determined by the dentist, exposing radiographs, etc.
• Periodontics: including prophylaxis.
• Prosthetics: impressions, wax try-ins, denture repairs, adjustments, relines, etc.
• Work closely with the dentists on patient consultations and preparing treatment plans.
• Keep inventory of dental supplies to ensure supplies are present for daily operations. Notify the Collections Manager of items needing ordered.
• Adheres to OSHA, emergency preparedness, infection control and regulatory guidelines.
• Assist receptionist occasionally in answering phones and making appointments.

Dental office environment. Multi-task oriented position may require sitting or standing for long periods. May involve contact with angry, upset, or ill persons. Will involve exposure to blood and body fluids and other hazardous substances. Must have visual acuity and manual dexterity to assist with procedures, and interface with computer. Must have auditory acuity to handle phone calls and extensive patient interaction.

The Dental Assistant must be responsible, have good interpersonal skills, good organizational skills, and excellent communication skills. Must have the ability to gain confidence and cooperation of patients. Must have the ability to establish effective working relationships with other employees. Must have pleasant demeanor when relating to patients in a businesslike manner. Must have accurate typing skills. Experience as a dental assistant is preferred.