Dental Assistant

JOB SUMMARY

The Dental Assistant contributes to Morris Heights Health Center’s continued success by passionately promoting the center’s culture, mission, vision and values. This Job Description identifies the major responsibilities of the dental assistant under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist.

The Dental Assistant is a highly effective member that works collaboratively with the dental care team to optimize effective patient flow by preparing paperwork, preliminary medical/dental history and taking of vital signs to be reviewed by a licensed dentist; to ensure patient’s safety by decontaminating, scrubbing, packaging and sterilizing all instruments in accordance with established Infection Control Protocol; and to maximize efficiency by setting instruments, preparing materials, performing four-handed dentistry, assisting at chairside, and by performing dental supportive services as authorized by a licensed dentist.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Prepares patient for treatment by seating patient, obtaining records and applying protective garb.
Help patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment.
Demonstrates excellent customer service and professionalism at all times.
Sets up chairside instruments, materials and medicaments to be used.
Taking dental radiographs in accordance with Radiology Policy.
Decontaminates, scrubs, packages and sterilizes all instruments in accordance with established Infection Control Protocol.
Documentation in logbooks as needed.
Proper documentation of the cleaning, bagging and dating of instruments as per policy and procedure.
Sets up and breaks down room using established protective barrier procedure and policy.
Performs routine maintenance of equipment.
Performs spore tests.
Performs solely mechanical work on inert matter, e.g. trimming or pouring impressions taken by the dentist.
Prepares lab scripts for cases, documents outgoing and incoming cases in logbook, stores all cases in designated area.
Assists in four-handed dentistry.
Assists the dentist during procedures including passing instruments, getting supplies and using the suction tube to keep the patients mouth dry.
Enters patient information (chief complaints, charting, LNA, medication list, etc.) to be reviewed by the dentist.
Takes preliminary medical/dental history including the measuring and recording of vital signs, weight and height, administer HIV Rapid Screening for dental patients to be reviewed by the dentist.
Participates in departmental and Center meetings as needed.
Follows all safety/infection control guidelines of MHHC/OSHA/NYS/NYC/JC or other regulatory bodies.
Performs other department-related tasks as needed.
Flexibility of work schedule and sites, includes early, late and Saturday hours.
Rotation to all dental facilities for coverage as needed.
Rotation of all assignment and tasks as directed.
Support Providers in patient care to cover ending shifts.
Must attend daily briefing.
Must check emails on a daily basis.
All and any multi-disciplinary initiatives.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education: High school graduate or GED, graduation from dental assisting school or equivalent training or 1 year experience in a similar setting.
Experience: One year experience preferred or equivalent combination of experience and education.
Interpersonal Skills: Good interpersonal skills. Ability to work with patients, dentists and other dental staff under a variety of conditions.
Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients and other employees of the organization.
Computer Skills: Basic computer skills, including use of a keyboard and mouse.
Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
Physical Demands: 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Certifications/Licenses/ Registrations: Certificate of completion of dental assistant training program, unless otherwise qualified by experience. Dental assistant certification preferred. Current BLS (CPR) certification.

HIRING RATE

$21.12- $23.75 per hour (based on experience)