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Dental Assistant

Employer
CentraCare Health
Location
Willmar, Minnesota
Salary
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Job Details

Provides chair side assistance to dental students, dental therapy students, faculty

and/or licensed dental staff in any services rendered to patients. This includes assisting with chair side,

laboratory and x-ray procedures, as well as assigned duties.


JOB RELATIONSHIPS:

A. REPORTS TO: Dental Clinic Director and Clinic Manager

B. SUPERVISES: Does not supervise.

C. INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH: Dentists, Instructors, Hygienists, Assistants,

Students, Office staff, patients of the Dental Clinic.


HOURS OF WORK: Generally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or as needed.


DRESS CODE: Scrubs or protective clothing/equipment.


ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK (Minimum qualifications necessary to

function at full productivity).

A. EDUCATION AND TRAINING: Graduation from an accredited dental assistant

program, including current certification as a licensed dental assistant, is the minimum

requirement.

B. EXPERIENCE: Experience in a dental office or clinic are preferred qualifications.

C. JOB KNOWLEDGE (Specific): Must possess and demonstrate high level

clinical skills and patient care techniques.


BUDGET: Assist with maintaining department budget and work in a cost efficient manner.


CLIENTELE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY JOB: Patients, co-workers, students, residents and faculty


PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB: Need for constant alertness to client/patient/employee

needs and/or potential problem areas. Occasional lifting, must be able to stand for long periods of time,

must have good manual dexterity to use rotary equipment and other dental instruments within a

patient's mouth.


PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE JOB: Clean, well lighted, quiet, clinic type environment.

Some noise associated with dental equipment. Exposure to blood and body fluids.


EQUIPMENT OR MACHINES USED ON THE JOB: Dental, sterilization and x-ray equipment

associated with School of Dentistry. Office equipment: fax, copier, scanner, computers, etc.


MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

A. JUDGMENT AND INITIATIVE: Perform routine duties following prescribe

patient care protocols and procedures. Responsible for understanding and

responding appropriately to emergencies (CPR, oxygen, emergency drug kit).

B. INDEPENDENT ACTION: Provides chair side assistance to dental students

and dentists during examinations and operations, maintaining a clear operative field.

C. EFFECT OF ERROR: Potential client harm or disruption of operations.

D. CONTACT WITH OTHERS: Dentists and dental students, dental hygiene

students, patients, staff, and other health care providers.


• PRINCIPLE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, TASKS, AND AUTHORITIES:

A. RESPONSIBILITY: Provides chair side dental services to patients under

supervision of licensed dental staff

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 70% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

Performs patient care activities relevant to the clinic assigned as permitted by the

Dental Practices Act.

1. Placement/removal of rubber dam.

2. Placement and removal of periodontal packs.

3. Application of pit and fissure sealants and application and preparation of dental

materials.

4. Performing mechanical polishing.

5. Removing excess cement from inlays, crowns, bridges and orthodontic bands.

6. Pre-selecting orthodontic bands and removing, replacing ligature ties.

7. Placement and removal of elastic orthodontic separators.

8. Taking impressions for casts and appropriate bite registration.

9. Making preliminary adaptation of temporary crowns.

10. Performing daily quality control tests for x-ray equipment.

11. Expose and process dental radiographs using bite wing, periapical and

panoramic films and related equipment.

12. Apply cavity preventative agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants.

13. Monitors patients who have been inducted by a dentist into nitrous oxide-

oxygen relative analgesia, acupuncture or iontophoresis.

14. Assists with dental cases using I.
•, I.M. and oral sedation including pre-op, post-

op instructions and in-procedure monitoring of patient with pulse oximeter.

15. May assist with dental cases performed in a hospital operating room.

16. Ensure comfort, safety, and cleanliness of dental facilities.

17. Establish work priorities, organize and perform quality work.

B. RESPONSIBILITY: Set up, sanitize and sterilization.

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 15% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Prepares patient, arranges instruments and set-ups, and prepares dental

materials for treatment procedure.

2. Prepares operatories using infection control techniques.

3. Maintains supplies, equipment and clinic cleanliness.

4. Sterilizes instruments including cleaning, wrapping and autoclaving.

C. RESPONSIBILITY: Patient and Student Education

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Help patients develop and maintain good oral health.

2. Explain the relationship between diet and oral health.

3. Explain how to select toothbrushes and show them how to brush and floss their

teeth.

4. Use models of teeth to explain oral hygiene.

5. Assist dentists and students to establish a professional environment by providing

positive support to patients.

6. Orients students and demonstrates procedures and proper utilization of

materials, techniques, and infection control protocol to dental and dental

hygiene students.

D. RESPONSIBILITY: Support Activities

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Support office staff in requesting records and appointment schedule.

2. Maintain and order dental supplies as needed.

E. RESPONSIBILITY: Serves on internal and external Rice

committees as assigned.

PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: A

TASKS:

1. Participates in other internal or external committees as assigned.

F. RESPONSIBILITY: Service Excellence

TASKS:

1. Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the Service Excellence philosophy by

adhering to behaviors outlined in Rice's "Standards of Excellence".

G. RESPONSIBILITY: Continuous Quality Improvement

TASKS:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the CQI philosophy.

a. Participate in CQI training activities or CQI teams if appropriate.

b. Demonstrate sensitivity to customers and their needs.

c. Interacts appropriately with internal customers, i.e. coworkers

within department, staff across departments.

d. Interact appropriately with external customers, i.e. patients,

families, medical staff, vendors.

e. Role model positive behaviors.

H. RESPONSIBILITY: Safety

TASKS:

1. Maintain and promote a safe environment for all patients, visitors and

employees.

2. Consistently follow all policies, practices and work rules.

3. Do not use shortcuts or work-a-rounds that may reduce safety or

increase risk.

4. Stay alert, act responsibly and use common sense to reduce risks.

5. Report actual events and good catches as soon as possible.

6. Eliminate hazards and identify and report unsafe systems.

7. Complete all mandatory safety education and attend safety sessions.

8. Review and understand the Safety Program as identified on RiceNet.

9. Seek answers to questions you have about the Safety Program.

10. Develop appropriate infection control policies, procedures and

practices for the Clinic in cooperation with the Rice Infection Control

Nurse.

Written: 10/01/07

Revised: 3/9/11

Revised: 8/27/13

Revised: 2/20/15

Revised: 1/4/17

Company

Carris Health has 16 convenient locations in West Central and Southwest Minnesota where you can access the specialized care you need, from surgery and rehabilitation to basic wellness check-ups. Whatever you need, we've got you covered.

Company info
Website
Location
301 Becker Ave. SW.
Willmar
MN
56201
United States

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