Dental Assistant (Da) Jobs

Dental Assistant (DA)

Salary: $19.00- $29.80

JOB SUMMARY: Provides patient care in the office setting. Provides care that meets the psychosocial, physical, and general aspects of care; meets the communication needs of patient and family; provides care that reflects initiative and responsibility indicative of professional expectations, under the supervision of a dentist. Maintains regulatory requirements, dental and office policies, procedures, and standards. Communicates with dentist and team members about patient's clinical condition, including results of diagnostic studies and symptomatology.

Prepares and maintains dental instruments, equipment and manages supplies. Collects/records/charts patients health history, managing patients during dental procedures. In addition, provides clinical support to the dentist by preparing and transferring dental armamentarium, including dental materials, including composites, amalgam, cements, impression material, etc. Moreover, prevents and manages dental medical emergencies.

Other applicable duties, and requirements, for a Dental Assistant (DA), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and a Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions (RDAEF), under the general or direct supervision of a licensed dentist, can be found on: California Dental Practice Act, Chapter 4, Article 7 (Dental Assistants), Sections 1740-1777.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures an adequate stock of supplies.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health/dental care errors.
• Performs other duties as assigned within the dental assistant's scope of practice.
• Interacts professionally with patient and family and involves patient and family in patient education.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care to the patients served.
• Medical and surgical asepsis is carried out during treatments and special procedures.
• Maintains office instruments, knowledgeable of sterilization techniques and biological indicators for sterilization.
• Meets current documentation standards and policies.
• Response to the patient is appropriate in emergency or physically distressful situations.
• Demonstrates the ability to assist dentist with procedures and perform services requiring technical and manual skills under the direction of a dentist.
• Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• May performs basic bookkeeping and accounting responsibilities.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to co-workers, Dentist, and Office Manager.
• Maintains a good working relationship with all staff members of the office.
• Ability to position and prep patients for dental office procedures.
• Provides direct patient care under the supervision of a dentist, evaluates outcomes, consults with other health team members as required.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
• Performs patient care responsibilities considering needs specific to the standard of care for patient's age.
• Maintains a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients and families in accordance with office standards.
• Answers telephone calls in a professional manner, directs calls appropriately; refers patient problems to office dentist; schedules patient appointments.
• Manages and operates equipment safely and correctly. Performs preventive maintenance.
• Assists in cost containment through appropriate ordering and conserving of supplies and equipment.
• Maintains infection prevention and control standards for exam/procedure rooms; cleans, disinfects, changes linen, etc.
• Ability to assist dental staff with routine examinations and patient treatments. This includes neonate, pediatric, adolescent, and geriatric patients, and the general patient population.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic, and religious/spiritual needs of patients and family.
• Notifies appropriate licensed staff when patient complains of pain.
• Maintains established office policies and procedures, objectives, performance improvement program, safety, environmental and infection prevention, and control standards.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Completes annual educational requirements.
• Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated time.
• Always maintains patient confidentiality.
• Meets dress code standards; appearance is neat and clean.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Attends staff meetings as directed; reads and returns all monthly staff meeting minutes.

REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Dental Assisting (DA or RDA) Certificate Successful completion of a Dental Assistant, Registered Dental Assistant (I & II) or Registered Dental Assistant in Extended Functions Program, as appropriate for the position, and all applicable/required California dental board examinations/licenses for practice.
• High School Diploma or equivalent (transcript is acceptable).

The dental assistant shall be responsible for ensuring that the dental assistant who has been in continuous employment for 120 days or more, has already successfully completed, or successfully completes, all the following within a year of the date of the employment:

• CPR BLS certification current and not expired.
• 2-Hour Dental Practice Certificate.
• Dental Radiology License.
• 8-Hour Infection Control Certificate.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Other languages preferred.
• Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Skills related to the position and as reflected on the California Dental Practice Act.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Knowledge of dental technology.
• Ability to type 40 wpm.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS:

For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion, and environment, see following description.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.

Please note that this job description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions may change as needs evolve.

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