Dental Assistant

Cbhealthwv; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dental Assistant works with CBHSA's dentists and staff in providing quality dental services. The Dental Assistant is directly responsible to the Dental Director.

Responsibilities include preparing operatories, seating patients, taking radiographs, charting findings, sterilizing instruments, and assisting with restorative, surgical, endodontic, perio, and prosthetic procedures, while supporting patient consultations and daily operations.

Qualifications

• Must have responsible, reliable behavior and strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities are required.
• Clear, effective communication with patients and staff is essential.
• Accurate typing skills are preferred for records and documentation.
• Experience as a dental assistant is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Set up operatories and sterilization area daily and maintain supplies.
• Seat patients and review medical and dental histories before procedures.
• Expose radiographs as directed by the dentist.
• Document lesions, fillings, and treatment notes in patient records.
• Sterilize instruments and maintain cleanliness of operatory and trays after each patient.
• Assist the dentist in restorative, surgical, endodontic, periodontic, and prosthetic procedures as needed.
• Help with patient consultations and treatment planning with the dentist.
• Assist receptionist with phones and appointment scheduling as required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Typing skills

Manual dexterity

Job description

Description

The Dental Assistant works with CBHSA's dentists and staff in providing quality dental services. The Dental Assistant is directly responsible to the Dental Director.

Job Duties

(Includes, but not limited to):

1. Organize, maintain, and set up the operatories and sterilization room daily.


2. Seat patients and review medical and dental history.


3. Expose radiographs as determined by the dentist.


4. Chart lesions and fillings for each patient's record as dictated by the dentist.


5. Clean/sterilize and maintain instruments and equipment. Sterilization of the operatories, instruments, and trays are to be completed after each patient.


6. Maintain a clean operatory and equipment at all times.


7. Assist the dentist in the following as needed:


8. Restorative: preparation of restoration, condensing, contouring, light cure, polishing, checking occlusion, crown/bridge preparation, try-in and cementation of crown/bridge, etc.


9. Surgical: suture placement and removal, packing extraction site, etc.


10. Endodontic: preparing file lengths as determined by the dentist, exposing radiographs, etc.


11. Periodontics: including prophylaxis.


12. Prosthetics: impressions, wax try-ins, denture repairs, adjustments, relines, etc.


13. Work closely with the dentists on patient consultations and preparing treatment plans.


14. Keep inventory of dental supplies to ensure supplies are present for daily operations. Notify the Collections Manager of items needing ordered.


15. Adheres to OSHA, emergency preparedness, infection control and regulatory guidelines.


16. Assist receptionist occasionally in answering phones and making appointments.

Working Conditions:

Dental office environment. Multi-task oriented position may require sitting or standing for long periods. May involve contact with angry, upset, or ill persons. Will involve exposure to blood and body fluids and other hazardous substances. Must have visual acuity and manual dexterity to assist with procedures, and interface with computer. Must have auditory acuity to handle phone calls and extensive patient interaction.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:

The Dental Assistant must be responsible, have good interpersonal skills, good organizational skills, and excellent communication skills. Must have the ability to gain confidence and cooperation of patients. Must have the ability to establish effective working relationships with other employees. Must have pleasant demeanor when relating to patients in a businesslike manner. Must have accurate typing skills. Experience as a dental assistant is preferred.