Job Title: Dental Assistant

Reports to: Dental Office Administrator

Supervises: N/A

Job Summary: Dental Assistant duties are comprehensive and varied. The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills working on routine dental procedures, radiology and sterilization tasks, and operatory sterilization.

Job Qualifications

Education or Formal Training (Licenses/Certifications):

• High school diploma or GED required; X-ray certificate required.
• Completion of an accredited Dental Assisting training program including externship hours preferred.

Experience:

• Customer service and communication skills to ensure patients feel comfortable during appointments required.
• Knowledge of dentistry, particularly dental procedures, instruments and hygiene preferred.
• Experience administering dental x-rays preferred.
• Technical skills and proficiency with dental, scheduling, office (computer skills) and other software preferred.
• Insurance coding and dental terminology preferred.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, patient records, manage multiple schedules, and ensure patient information is complete and up to date as required.

Language:

• Bilingual: English/Spanish, preferred.

Additional Requirements/Licenses/Certifications:

• Current CPR certification required, along with any required maintenance.
• Current personal immunization records, along with any required maintenance.
• Ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all HIPAA (created, received, maintained, or transmitted).
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Travel: Minimal, as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to display a professional appearance and demeanor.
• Ability to follow all MCHC policies, procedures, standards, specifications, guidelines, actively participate and attend employee meetings and complete required training programs in a timely manner.
• Ability to promote, work, and act in a manner consistent with the mission of MCHC.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with team members to ensure superior results and team success.
• Demonstrable verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to think and act independently to find solutions.
• Is task and deadline oriented.
• Ability to take on ownership of assignments and communicate status, issues, etc., and follow-through to completion.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DESCRIPTION

Prepare exam rooms for appointments and ensuring all necessary equipment is ready for the dentist. Serve as an infection control specialist, following infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment.

As required, take and process dental radiographs (x-rays) and complete lab work. Assist dentists during procedures by handing them instruments and anticipating needs throughout the appointment. Advise patients on recommended oral hygiene and answers related questions.

Prepares restorative materials and perform laboratory procedures such as pouring and trimming of study models. Maintain supplies and equipment, monitor inventory, maintain emergency drug kits, and conduct spore/biological indicator tests.

Complete consent forms from patients for nitrous and extractions. Record data on patient record or chart as directed. Participate in patient and community education oral health. Handle generic clinic administrative work and maintenance of exam rooms for the dental office.

Required Performs other duties as assigned.

Working Environment and Physical Activities

This job is performed in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses equipment related to their specialty (radiography equipment, computers, etc), as well as standard office equipment such as phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include close, distance, and peripheral vision, as well as depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.

PM20

PI143266927