Dental Assistant Job Description
Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team. Dental assistants have strong communication skills and enjoy working with their hands.
The duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assist with dental and medical emergencies according to OSHA and the office procedures.
- Maintain CPR certification.
- Assist chair side in all dental specialties, including orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, restorative, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Educate patients and families on caries risk management and reduction protocols.
- Communicate with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies).
- Make impressions.
- Explain consents in detail, answer patient questions and obtain patient signatures.
- Clean and polish appliances.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients at each appointment.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Expose diagnostic x-rays.
- Actively provide hand instruments and materials to the dentist, as needed, during exams and procedures in order to help maintain patient comfort and dentist’s efficiency.
- Using and maintain hazard control protocols as established by OSHA and office standards
- Must always represent the practice in a professional, pleasant, and cooperative manner.
- Must maintain regular consistent and punctual attendance in accordance with assigned schedule and time off policies.
- Must be able to comfortably and efficiently handle multiple deadlines and task assignments.
- Must be able to work both independently and cooperatively in a team setting.
- Occasionally, there may be some travel required in order for you to participate in continuing education or seminars.
- Perform various laboratory procedures (pouring study models, fabricating bleaching trays, etc.)
- Equipment maintenance: performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Other duties and tasks, as assigned periodically.
Success Factors:
- Always maintain the highest level of confidentiality to HIPAA standards.
- Adhere to strict safety guidelines and procedures to OSHA and office standards.
- Adhere to office policy and procedures.
- Be comfortable seeing and able to maintain a professional demeanor and attitude while working around blood and smells that may be unpleasant.
- Be detail oriented in order to work efficiently in small spaces and maintain patient comfort
- Be flexible and understand that your job duties may change from time to time and that you may be asked to help in other areas of the office.
- Excel in forward thinking in order to anticipate the needs of the doctor as well as the patient.
- Demonstrate active listening – give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions and appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Demonstrate good reading comprehension – understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills – talking to others to convey information effectively
Requirements:
- High school diploma or GED certificate
- Ability to attend to multiple tasks at the same time and to prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Licensed dental assistant (must provide updated license every year) or registered to be a Dental Assistant Trainee
Physical Demands:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and 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 or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required of the employee so classified. This job description is subject to change depending on the business needs.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $18.00 - $32.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
License/Certification:
- X-Ray Certification (Preferred)
- Dental Assisting License (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Ottumwa, IA 52501: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person