Dental Assistant

• Patient Interaction:

• Monitoring schedule to maintain efficient patient flow.
• Politely ushering patients from waiting area to treatment area.
• Preparing patients for treatment (chair positioning, napkin placement, providing patient protective eyewear, etc.).
• Providing pre-operative and post-operative instructions.
• Addressing patient’s chief complaint and any questions/concerns raised.
• Helping patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.
• Guiding parents and patients through the process before treatment.
• Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health.
• Initiate referrals as needed by dentist and arranges appropriate follow-up.
• Acts as a communication link between dentist and front desk.
• Providing superior customer service to all patients.
• Recognizing and responding to basic medical and dental emergencies.
• Monitoring patients while nitrous oxide is being administered.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality through HIPAA compliance.
• Advocating for Grace Health and its respective mission.
• Participating in local community affairs and events including school screenings, presentations, events, and any opportunity to promote a positive image of Grace Health.
• Chairside and Expanded Duties Assisting:

• Preparing operatory for planned or emergency dental procedures.
• Documenting oral examinations, including reviewing/updating medical and dental history.
• Taking blood pressure and pulse measurements when needed.
• Obtaining radiographic images using appropriate technique, as requested by dentist.
• Keeping all operatories appropriately stocked with needed supplies and instruments.
• Maintaining and sterilizing all equipment and instruments according to manufacturer/clinic guidelines.
• Cleaning clinic’s evacuation system according to equipment guidelines.
• Properly disposing of hazardous and infectious waste per policy.
• Assisting dentist with a variety of treatment procedures using four-handed dentistry.
• Maintaining field of operation during dental procedures using retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, etc.
• Following universal precautions.
• Taking impressions (preliminary and final) and fabricating diagnostic casts.
• Performing other duties as assigned by dentist or supervisor.
• Office Management:

• Performing office management tasks.
• Maintaining equipment records for maintenance and operational purposes.
• Ordering clinical supplies.
• Cross training with front desk to provide coverage as needed.
• Completing laboratory authorization forms.
• Preparing dental lab boxes and labeling for mailing.
• Developing system to manage lab cases and deliveries.
• Performing other duties as assigned by management.

• Grace Health recognizes that managing patient care is a team effort that involves clinical and non-clinical staff. All employees must embrace a team-based approach to patient care and understand that each role is important to our success.
• Team members must demonstrate excellent team communication and coordination to provide quality patient care.
• Care coordination includes communicating with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists.
• Care team members understand and embrace the concept of population management and proactively address the needs of patients and families served by this practice.
• Team members must demonstrate skill and knowledge related to effective communication with vulnerable patient populations.
• Team members must participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities within the organization to ensure patients receive high quality care.
• All team members will be involved in the process of improving quality incomes.
• Team members will participate in the review and evaluation processes of practice performance and help to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Team members will participate in Grace Health's advocacy program.

• Follow policies and procedures of the office, including administrative, clinical, quality assurance, and personnel.
• Maintain good attendance (daily, meetings, and other assignment tasks).
• Maintain timely documentation of all work assignments.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Routinely keep supervisor informed about attendance and job assignments.
• Flexible in being able to multitask.
• Work effectively and at an efficient pace.
• Work cooperatively with providers, administration, and peers.

• Basic computer skills are required.
• Experience with Dentrix software is preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel preferred.

• High school diploma. Completion of dental assisting program preferred.
• 1 year of dental assisting preferred.
• Licenses or Certifications:

• Radiography certificate
• Current CPR certificate

Grace Health