Job Description: Dental Assistant

Description:

Dental assistants work with dental providers and team other members in the dental practice. They are expected to always behave in a professional manner and work collaboratively with assigned providers. It is the dental assistant’s responsibility to learn specific providers methods and procedure flow. It is a dental assisting best practice to keep and maintain a document of ‘Provider Workflow’ and review/revise as needed. Because of the significance of the role during patient care, the dental assistant must remain professional during all patient interactions (written communication (email), verbal communication etc.). He/she must also have an excellent grasp on common dental procedures and be able to answer patient questions.

Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma or Higher
  • High Level of accountability and self-direction
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Computer and practice software proficient

Dental Assistant Duties:

  • Assist dentist/hygienists during dental treatment procedures
  • Assist dentist/hygienists with typical procedures such as taking X-rays, taking vitals, updating patient medical history, charting, intra oral photos, and assisting with any other clinical procedures up to their legal ability
  • Assisting with operatory setup, breakdown, maintenance, or other preparation of rooms and equipment & instruments daily
  • Understand the supply ordering process
  • Keeping assigned operatories stocked and patient ready
  • Sterilization of instruments
  • Disinfection of operatories in accordance with OSHA standards
  • Proper documentation of patient demographics on lab prescription
  • Manage lab cases for assigned dentist
  • Provide post operative instructions
  • Post-op follow-up calls to patients
  • Enter patient chart notes in software
  • Manage unscheduled patient lists, contact and schedule patients during down time
  • Maintain neat and organized clinical common areas (sterilization area, lab, operatories etc.)
  • Manage daily patient schedule to ensure provider stays on time

Office Participation

  • Be an active participant in staff meetings
  • Perform other tasks as assigned by office manager

Interpersonal

  • Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists, other staff members and community
  • Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff
  • Team player
  • Able to adapt to office policy improvements (office is constantly striving for improved customer care/service)
  • Conflict resolution experience
  • Customer service or patient relations experience
  • Communicate all concerns to Office Manager