Dental Assistant

Job Details

Job Location

La Porte - La Porte, IN

Position Type

Full Time

Education Level

High School

Travel Percentage

None

Job Shift

Day

Description

As a Dental Assistant I, you will systematically analyze patient health information, manage and track coordination of pro-active care for patients with chronic conditions, and identify wellness and / or preventative service for clinical patients. This position will work closely with the dental staff and will report to the Dental Coordinator.

As a Dental Assistant II, you will perform all the duties of Dental Assistant I, place and shape composite resin restorations, and facilitate dental equipment repairs and tracking processes

As a Dental Assistant III, you will perform all the duties of Dental Assistant I and Dental Assistant II, direct billing tasks to the appropriate personnel, and collaboratively monitor dental schedules

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES :

Level 1

• Receives and prepares patients for treatment, including seating positioning chair, and placing napkin.
• Takes and records vital signs.
• Identifies intraoral anatomy.
• Performs mouth mirror inspection of the oral cavity.
• Exposes and evaluates radiographs for diagnostic quality.
• Charts existing restorations or conditions.
• Provides patient preventive education and oral hygiene instruction.
• Applies topical anesthetic to the injection site.
• Identifies features of rotary instruments.
• Places and removes dental dam.
• Maintains field of operation during dental procedures via retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, placing and removing cotton rolls, etc.
• Using the concepts of four- handed dentistry, assists with basic restorative and intraoral surgical procedures, including prosthodontics, restorative dentistry extractions, periodontics, and endodontics.
• Transfers dental instruments.
• Places and removes matrix bands.
• Places amalgam for condensation by the dentist.
• Provides pre- and post-operative instructions.
• Recognizes and responds to basic medical / dental emergencies such as post-surgical bleeding.
• Removes sutures.
• Phones in prescriptions at the direction of the dentist.
• Takes preliminary impressions.
• Selects and manipulates gypsums and waxes.
• Mixes dental materials.
• Pours, trims, and evaluates the quality of diagnostic casts.
• Completes laboratory authorization forms.
• Places and removes retraction cord.
• Fabricates, places, and removes temporary crowns and cements.
• Cleans and polishes removable appliances and prostheses.
• Prepares procedural trays / armamentaria set-ups.
• Performs sterilization and disinfection procedures.
• Performs coronal polishing procedures pending appropriate certification achieved.
• Applies topical fluoride and pit and fissure sealants upon achieving appropriate certifications.
• Performs routine maintenance of dental equipment.
• Maintains emergency kit.
• Acts as a backup for the Dental Patient Services Representative as needed.
• All HealthLinc staff is committed to engage in quality improvement initiatives that align with and support Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Level 2 (In addition to above)

Placing, packing and carving of amalgam restorations.

Places and shapes composite resin restorations.

Applies liners and bases.

Performs pulp capping procedures.

Precepts dental assistant externs.

Orders supplies and tracks inventory.

Tracks lab cases and manages invoices.

Facilitates and tracks Dental Equipment repairs.

Completes all assigned Relias training on time.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Level 3 (In addition to above)

Performs all the duties of Dental Assistant I and Dental Assistant II.

Directs billing tasks to appropriate personnel.

Trains Dental Assistant I.

Collaboratively monitors dental schedules.

Completes all assigned Relias training on time.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS :

Education / Training

High school diploma or equivalent

Graduate of a program for Dental Assistants accredited under the Commission on Dental Accreditations or agency recognized by the US Department of Education (not required but highly preferred)

Licensed in the State of Indiana to take dental radiographs or holds a provisional license to be converted to State of Indiana License within 6 months of date of graduation from dental assisting program

Current CPR certification

Dental Assisting National Board Certification (not required but highly preferred)

Experience

At least one year of experience as a Dental Assistant (not required but highly preferred for DA I but required for DA II and DA III)

Skills / Job Requirement

Strong organizational and time management skills

Proven ability to work well in a team environment

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Knowledge of dental office practices, procedures and equipment

Knowledge of dental equipment maintenance

Knowledge of dental record keeping

Bilingual in Spanish preferred

Ability to follow HealthLinc policies and procedures

Technology Skills

Operate a multi-line phone system and other office equipment including printers, fax machines, etc.

Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, EHR, online sources, etc.)

DIRECT SUPERVISION :

N / A

REQUIRED TRAINING :

All assigned Relias training