Dental Assistant

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.

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