Job Title: Specialty Dental Assistant
FLSA:Non-Exempt
Reports To:Ortho & Specialty Administrator
Position Summary
The Specialty Assistant performs a variety of dental assisting duties while promoting a safe and clean environment for providing quality dental care. These duties include, but are not limited to, assisting the doctor; communicating effectively with patients (or parents if patient is a child); maintaining equipment and inventory; cleaning, sterilizing, and packaging instruments; and following standard universal precautions, OSHA and HIPAA requirements, and dental board auxiliaries’ regulations. Specialty Assistant will travel with Specialty Team to multiple locations within the Company.
Essential duties/Responsibilities
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Prepare trays and operatories for various procedures
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Prepare patients for treatment and assist your specialist enabling them to provide efficient, quality dental treatment.
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Arrive prior to the first scheduled patient to prepare for the day and be a part of the morning huddle according to the office schedule.
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Greet and seat patients as soon as possible and notify Doctor (check the operatory to make sure it is clean and disinfected before seating a new patient)
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Assist the Doctor’s during various procedures and rotate with Doctor’s as requested; in accordance to all State and Federal regulations
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Follow the guidelines set forth by manager of the office you are working at that day; direct supervision is provided by the OM.
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Work closely with the Back Floor Supervisor to ensure an appropriate and adequate clinical supply and that equipment is well maintained in each dental practice, while simultaneously remaining fiscally responsible.
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Must maintain and order specialty supplies with communication to Back Floor Supervisor and Office Manager
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Maintain a clean, sterile and cheerful environment where our patients feel comfortable; prepare them for treatment and assist your specialty- therapy enabling them to provide efficient quality dental treatment.
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Obtain dental history and/or records from patients (review patient health history for the specialist for all returning patients.
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Work with the front office and back office teams to ensure the specialist’s schedule runs smoothly and efficiently.
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Ensure that operatories are stocked and cleaned at all times
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Check for patients’ signatures on the Health Questionnaire and Informed Consent Form
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Accurately /completely document patient care activities in the chart as directed by the doctor and Company policy
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Explain treatment plans to patients as needed
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Escort patients to front office area for patient dismissal when treatment is completed, and inform the receptionist when and for what their next visit(s) must be scheduled
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Disinfect general back office areas; including operatory
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Apply all-wrap in and around operatories where needed
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Clean, sterilize, and package dental instruments
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Prepare lab cases
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Turn off all equipment nightly, including the vacuum, compressor, etc.
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Ensure that handpieces are properly cleaned and oiled
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Review the Hazard Communication book and sign the training log
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Ensure that hazardous products are properly labeled
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Follow waste disposal procedures for Sharps and for contaminated material/chemical.
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Compliance with state and Federal infection control standards in the dental office and operatories, including but not limited to: wearing protective barriers such as gloves, scrubs, and eye wear; disinfecting and sterilizing instruments and treatment areas; and disposing properly of contaminated or bio-hazardous waste/materials.
Other duties and Requirements
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Check next day appointment schedule for all lab cases and verify that they are ready, if not, see that the patient is rescheduled
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Follow-up with lab and maintain the log on partials and remakes.
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Attend and participate in staff meetings and team huddles
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Other duties as assigned by the Office Manager, Regional Manager, and/or Dentists
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
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Minimum one year of recent experience as a Specialty Assistant preferred
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Valid California Registered Dental Assistant license and RDA certification required or Certificate from accredited Dental Assisting School preferred
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Bilingual: English & Spanish required (if the geographic location of the office does not require the applicant to be bilingual, applicants who only speak English may be considered)
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CPR and First-Aid certification required
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Infection Control Certificate required (DA Only)
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Ability to obtain an NPI (RDA Only)
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Strong written and verbal communication skills
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Ability to work with people of all ages (i.e. Children)
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Strong interpersonal and relationship skills
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Ability to work in a fast paced environment and able to multitask
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Ability to maintain outgoing, friendly attitude with patients and coworkers
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Ability to work with interruptions and to manage multiple priorities
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Ability to work with minimal supervision
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Ability to be extremely organized
Technological Skills
INDWCD