Dental Assistant

Job Purpose:

The Dental Assistant supports the delivery of oral health care by preparing patients, treatment rooms, instruments and materials.

Essential Job Functions including, but not limited to:

Satisfies Core Competencies

• Accepts responsibility for ensuring that performance meets the standards of the professional, ethical and relevant department requirements and OHCC core values.

Customer Service

• Greets patients, handle their inquiries, and provides quality comprehensive care
• Facilitates completion of consent forms in accordance with requirements and procedures.
• Schedules and confirms appointments for patients.
• Demonstrates eagerness to learn and assume responsibility; seeks out and accepts increased responsibility; displays a "can do" approach to work.
• Delivers culturally and linguistically competent customer service consistently.
• Handles confidential and sensitive patient information using HIPPA guidelines.

Oral Health Care Delivery

• Prepare and maintain dental instruments, materials and equipment

• Prepares rooms for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols

• Collect and record patient information including health history and document in electronic record for dentist’s reference prior to examination.

• Help patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment.

• Take and process x-rays.

• Follow through with post-visit duties.

• Assist dentist chair-side by organizing and preparing instruments for dentist’s use and assisting as needed during procedures.

• Provide patient education in oral hygiene and dental care.

• Perform tasks according to approved privileges and under the supervision of the dentist including but not limited to: application of fluoride varnish and sealants, dental impressions

• Provides instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area; passing instruments and suctioning to assist dentist

• Educates patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions

• Documents dental care services in patient records

• Utilize the requisite tools, systems, technology and equipment in the collection of patient data and documentation management and collections.

• Demonstrate knowledge of dentistry procedures, clinic infection control procedures, cleaning and sterilization of instruments, tray setup and materials.

Required Education:

• Dental Assistant Certification in the state of Louisiana, EDDA required.

Skills, Licensure and Knowledge Requirements:

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification required
• Proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Office, and typing skills are required.
• Excellent verbal, customer service, and written skills are necessary for this position.
• Good organizational skills are essential.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred.