Carpenter Dental - Registered Dental Assistant

West Dakota Dental Partners; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 38,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

West Dakota Dental Partners is seeking a Dental Assistant to be the doctor’s right hand, coordinating clinical and administrative tasks to deliver excellent patient care. You will take digital radiographs, assist during procedures, prepare patients, and help educate them on brushing, flossing, and oral health in a calm, patient-centered environment.

The role requires strong charting, sterilization, lab communication, front desk coordination, and teamwork to ensure smooth scheduling and financial

Qualifications

• Must take digital radiographs and panoramic imaging.
• Maintain sterile environment per OSHA standards.
• Explain brushing techniques and patient education.
• Support doctor during procedures and charting.
• Coordinate with front desk on scheduling and payments.

Responsibilities

• Take digital radiographs including vertical and horizontal bitewings, periapicals, full-mouth series, as well as film panoramic.
• Take intraoral photographs to complete records and aid in treatment planning.
• Prepare the patient for procedures (seating, topical anesthesia, etc.).
• Instruct patient in brushing, flossing and oral care products.
• Support the doctor during procedures through charting and instrumentation.
• Maintain proper sterilization and organize instruments and supplies.

Skills

Relationship building

Influencing skills

Digital radiographs software

Teamwork and leadership

Marketing the practice

Creative problem solving

Verbal skills with patients

Charting/documentation

Sterilization/OSHA

Scheduling/financial systems

Back office operations

Job description

The Dental Assistant is the right-hand of the doctor taking care of all the needs of our patients. They create efficient delivery models, instrumentation, and sterilization so the dentist can provide the best clinical care and results. They provide a calm and warm environment for patients who are otherwise anxious and concerned about “what is going to happen next." The clinical skills required for getting ready for anesthetic, support of restorative/cosmetic procedures, and the taking of x-rays are delivered with the best outcomes.

The Dental Assistant sets the tone for the appointment by engaging in purposeful conversations that identify patients’ motivators, concerns, and captures all pertinent information through effective charting skills. The Dental Assistant supports patients’ clinical and emotional needs by ensuring that patients want the treatment that they need. They coordinate with the front office team to ensure seamless delivery and accountability for scheduling and follow-through on financial arrangements. The number one responsibility of all employees is patient care and meeting patient needs. This guide outlines responsibilities that must be accomplished daily, weekly, and monthly. Additional responsibilities may be required, as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Relationship building skills
• Influencing skills
• Computer skills including digital radiographs and practice management software
• Teamwork and leadership skills
• Ability to market the practice
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Superb verbal skills with patients and staff
• Overall understanding of the practice’s philosophy and systems
• Organized charting skills
• Excellent clinical skills, expanded duties, x-rays, etc.
• Familiarity with all the instruments necessary for each procedure and how the dentist likes to be supported
• Overall understanding of all aspects of the back office
• Disinfection and sterilization skills meeting or exceeding OSHA standards
• Motivated to stay up-to-date on medical, dental and hygiene protocols
• Keen understanding of scheduling and financial systems in order to support the processes from the operatory
• Ability to function within a team environment as a supportive and positive contributor

KEY GOALS/BENCHMARKS OF ROLE

• Daily, monthly, and yearly production goals achieved
• Support of the overall goals and strategies per the Annual Plan
• Efficient procedures executed within the timed procedure guidelines
• Dental supply percentages per the Annual Plan
• Room turnover occurs in agreed upon time
• Effective debriefs and baton passes to both the Scheduling and Financial Coordinators
• Patients referrals generated as a result of patient invitations
• Positive patient reviews of the back-office experienceES

Job Specific

• Take digital radiographs including vertical and horizontal bitewings, periapicals, full-mouth series, as well as film panoramic, bitewings, periapicals or occlusals, as needed.
• Take intraoral photographs to complete records and aid in treatment planning.
• Prepare the patient for the appropriate procedures (seating, applying the topical, etc.).
• Instruct patient in tooth brushing and flossing techniques, aids and proxy, brush, perio aids, disclosing methods, electric toothbrushes and waterjets, oral rinses, anti-caries products, and nutrition.
• Support the doctor during the procedure through charting and instrumentation.
• Assist the doctor when examining the hygiene patients. Make sure the patient’s record is complete and all services for the day’s treatment are recorded.
• Maintain proper sterilization-package instruments in their correct groupings and check bur blocks for completeness and order.
• Put away instruments in rooms and keep bur blocks and other supplies stocked.
• Disinfect operatories between procedures.
• See that lab cases are checked in and are going out in a timely manner.
• Communicate with the lab to resolve any other lab issues.
• Utilize an efficient system to alert the front office that the case has arrived in the office.
• Enter detailed and accurate notes with all the pertinent discussions of treatment recommendations, options, and timeline plans noted in the computer in a joint effort with the doctor and treatment coordinator, when necessary.
• Communicate referral and medical consult information to other offices and patients, and follow-up on progress of referrals/medical consultations.
• Properly dispose of the biohazard bags in box.
• Ensure nitrous and oxygen tanks are changed when needed.
• If RDA/EFDA – Perform all the clinical duties that are called for, per your licensure.

Practice Management

• Do a thorough chart review and bring pertinent information to the huddle.
• Review the schedule to share if there are any special needs or areas of concern to share with the staff.
• Debrief and handoff patients appropriately so that the front desk knows what was done during the appointment and the patient is accountable.
• Organize the back office, sterilization, and lab areas.
• Manage the clinical inventory system.
• Make sure post-op calls are completed as delegated with proper documentation.
• Write or call patients that made a special impact on the office thanking them for being our patient.
• Complete Daily 5 checklist for your role each day.
• Complete all assigned tasks in the Spear Platform Action Center.

Teamwork

• All back-office staff needs to look for projects to keep them busy during down time.
• Proactively communicate with the front office so they know any changes in treatment and what treatment needs to be done at the next appointment.
• Lead and participate in staff meetings with skills including facilitation, training, and problem-solving.
• Take initiative when practice is running behind or under staffed.
• Assist front office when called upon for tasks including filing and pulling charts, organizing the inside of old charts, health histories that have had changes and specialist letters with the newest stapled to the top.
• Shred health histories that have no changes.
• Make confirmation calls, medical consultations, referrals and post-op or follow-up calls.
• Assist hygiene when possible with charting, panos, and other tasks that help serve our patients.
• Embody the practice philosophy in all actions and decisions.
• Fully utilize admin time to prepare for next day.
• Take initiative when practice is running behind or under staffed.

EQUIPMENT USED

Includes but is not limited to:

• Autoclave
• X-rays
• Intraoral camera
• Ultrasonic
• Blood pressure

LEADERSHIP/SELF-DIRECTION RESPONSIBILITY

It is expected that you will perform any function asked of you knowing that you will never be asked to do anything that is illegal, immoral, or unethical. We stand by the vision of the practice to provide an atmosphere of continuous learning and of mutual support where everyone bands together as a team to provide the utmost in care to our patients while honoring each other.