Certified/Registered Dental Assistant

BELOVED COMMUNITY FAMILY WELLN; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Beloved Community Family Wellness Center in Chicago (Halsted and Blue Island) seeks a Dental Assistant to support the dentist and hygienist, assist with charting, sterilization, instrument prep and infection control, under the Dental Director.

This non-exempt role includes reception duties, scheduling, insurance forms, radiographs, and inventory management, with a strong emphasis on patient care, teamwork, and compassionate service for diverse patients.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and communication abilities.
• Ability to work with diverse populations respectfully.
• Team-oriented and able to follow directions from the Dentist/Director.

Responsibilities

• Greet patients, answer phones, schedule and modify appointments.
• Assist dentist and hygienist; prepare operatory and instruments.
• Perform charting, treatment planning, radiographs as directed.
• Handle insurance forms, billing, and data entry into the EDR system.
• Maintain infection control and sterilization procedures.
• Manage inventory, communicate with supply vendors, and order as needed.
• Provide cross-trained reception duties and patient education as needed.

Skills

Customer service

Bilingual English/Spanish

Communication

Education

Dental Assistant program (preferred)

High school diploma or GED

Job description

BELOVED COMMUNITY FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER

Dental Assistant (Halsted and Blue Island)

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Department: Clinical

Position Status: Non-Exempt

CORE VALUES OF BELOVED COMMUNITY FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER

Our core values include Compassion, Respect, Integrity, and Innovation. These values guide us in day to day moral decisions and resolving ethical dilemmas, and defining the character of “Beloved Community Family Wellness Center.”

Job Summary:

The Registered/Certified Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting the dentist and dental hygienist in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients of the health center. The Dental Assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies. Under the direct supervision of the Dental Director, the Dental Assistant will serve various duties that will be assigned accordingly by the Dental Director. She/he will assist the Dentist with the various clinical procedures. The Dental Assistant will also adhere to current infection control procedures, “Universal Precautions.” The Dental Assistants are cross trained and performs the Dental Receptionist duties.

Position Responsibilities:

• Greeting patients as they arrive and answering the phones.
• Scheduling and cancelling patient appointments.
• Follow Directives from Dentist
• Dental electronic Charting and Treatment Planning.
• Completing and filing insurance forms and dental billing records. Translating dental services into proper billable codes.
• Refer patients to medical, behavioral health, substance abuse, outreach & nutritional services
• Managing office inventory and supplies. Communicating with dental supply vendors. Handling test results including x-rays.
• Office duties including document filing, scanning, and creation
• Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering their questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist
• Serves as dentist’s chair-side assistant Prepares operatory for patient treatment
• Perform coronal polishing and dental sealant duties per dentist directives
• Exposes and develops dental radiographs and performs independent procedures as delegated and directed by the dentist in accordance with state regulations and law
• Maintains dental department equipment and work areas in compliance with health center policies and procedures related to infection control and safety issues, including the sterilization of all reusable dental instruments and equipment and the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials
• Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list for inventory control and ordering purposes
• Review and document in patient electronic medical record as required and receives and complete necessary telephone calls consistent with professional matter, clinic business and patient care
• Assists with various clinical and administrative functions of the center as appropriate and as time permits
• As directed by a supervisor, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organization and programmatic goals and objectives
• Comprehensive knowledge of dental assisting techniques and procedures for all phases of general dentistry
• Must be cognizant of the expectations and concerns of the health center’s dental patients and be able to respond in an empathetic and professional manner

Requirements – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – for the Position of Dental Assistant

• To succeed on the job, the Certified/Registered Dental Assistant must possess the following skills, knowledge, and abilities:
• Skilled in providing excellent customer service and support; organizing and prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines; and excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, education, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds.
• Ability to work effectively with managers, co-workers, members of the public and professional groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively, clearly, concisely with others (internal and external customers, both verbally and in writing), consistently demonstrate positive/proactive customer service attitude. Consistently maintains ethical behaviors exemplary of quality public service and fair standards, inclusively, among all employees and members of the public.
• Ability to work as an effective team member; function independently, exercise sound judgment and initiative; be flexible to shift priorities; maintain confidentiality; establish and maintain effective interpersonal work relationships, effectively assist providers; work toward goals and objectives of draft priorities.

Qualifications

• Degree of completion of Dental Assistant school (preferred but not required)
• High school Graduate (or GED)
• Minimum of two-year experience in a dental setting
• Certificate in Coronal Polisher/Dental Sealant
• CPR certification
• Proficiency in dental assistant terminology and procedures
• Previous experience as Dental Assistant in a non-profit setting highly desirable
• Must be computer literate with ability to enter information in the EDR system and compile reports or data as requested.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)