Dental Assistant

❤️HEART OF FLORIDA HEALTH CENTER; Ocala (FL); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking healthcare organization as a Dental Assistant, where you will play a vital role in providing quality dental care to patients. In this entry-level position, you will assist dentists and hygienists with various clinical tasks, ensuring adherence to health and safety standards. You'll have the opportunity to grow professionally through continual training and support while working in a collaborative environment. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills and a proactive attitude, ready to make a difference in the lives of patients. If you are passionate about dental health and committed to serving the community, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required; EFDA training preferred.
• BLS certification must be obtained within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Perform chairside dental assisting tasks per Florida regulations.
• Educate patients on oral hygiene and assist with treatment plans.

Skills

Good Communication Skills

Emotional Intelligence

Time Management Skills

Manual Dexterity

General Office Skills

Teamwork

Flexibility

Bilingual (Spanish)

Education

High School diploma or GED

Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Certificate

Current BLS certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

EHR (eCW)

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Heart of Florida Health Center MAIN - Ocala, FL

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School

Salary Range: Undisclosed

Description

Job Summary

Entry-level positions for the dental assistant role which is responsible for performing all the delegable clinical dental assisting duties listed in Florida Statutes 466 and Administrative Rules 64B-5, including but not limited to screening and preparing patients for treatment, assisting hygienist/dentists in treating patients, educating patients, and processing instruments, with adherence to HIPAA, CDC, and OSHA standards. Team members are involved in continual training.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Education and Training:

  • High School diploma or GED required.
  • Successful completion of an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant Certificate (EFDA) Training course from an Accredited Dental Assistant school or training program, including dental radiology, is preferred.
  • Current BLS certificate from an accredited AHA provider within 30 days from the date of hire – may be available from HFHC upon request.
  • Must have a valid Florida Driver’s license and have a reliable form of transportation.

• Experience:

  • No dental assistant experience required, yet preference will be given to candidates with experience and or training.
  • Experience working with children is a plus.
  • Experience dealing with underserved populations and cultural competency a plus.
  • Behavioral Management: Experience working with children and comfortable working with patients of all ages preferred or be willing to train.
  • Cultural Competency: Experience dealing with underserved populations and ability to relate to patients of all religions, ethnical and cultural backgrounds preferred.

• Skills:

  • Good Communication Skills: Must have good people skills and communicate following the HFHC Core Values.
  • Emotional Intelligence and Adaptability: Must be able to stay positive in stressful situations and deal professionally with unhappy, fearful, and confrontational individuals.
  • Adherence to Policy and Procedures: Must have a good working knowledge of dental terminology, dental policies & procedures, and oral health issues or be willing to train.
  • Time Management Skills: Must be able to organize and prioritize workload.
  • Manual Dexterity for the utilization of specialized equipment, i.e. prophylaxis slow speed handpiece.
  • Competent in General Office Skills such as computers (Microsoft Office products, EHR i.e. eCW), faxes, telephones, and copy machines.
  • Teamwork: Must be team-oriented and maintain an effective and positive professional working relationship with all clinical and nonclinical staff.
  • Proactive Attitude: Must be willing to train in additional duties and expanded functions to grow professionally within the organization.
  • Flexibility and Attendance: Must be able to work flexible hours and at various sites as needed or assigned by the Dental Practice Manager and Chief Dental Officer.
  • Bilingual a plus: Spanish speaker preferred.

Essential Functions

• Primary tasks include chairside dental assisting tasks as allowed by the Florida Statutes and Administrative Rules for the purpose of on-the-job training:
• Identify patients using Double Identifiers – i.e., name and birth date.
• Document patients’ chief complaints in their patient’s own words.
• Collects and records medical history, list of medications and allergies, surgeries, hospitalization, and social/dental history record.
• Obtain and record in medical record patient vitals, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and or glucose levels (when applicable), height, and weight as needed.
• Operates dental X-ray equipment and takes diagnostic dental X-rays as prescribed by the dentist as part of the on-the-job training for CDA certification, once indicated.
• Handles dental instruments, including cleaning/oiling, bagging, sterilization/disinfection, and re-circulation following OSHA and CDC standards.
• Assists in educating patients and parents/guardians regarding oral hygiene, treatment option and plans, dental consent and provides witness signatures prior to specialty procedures.
• Assist the dentist through 4-handed dentistry, including suction, handling dental materials, and transferring instruments.
• Performs operatory disinfection before and after dental procedures.
• Records accurate dental charting of existing restorations, new dental caries, and planned restorations.
• Records dictated dental and periodontal charting as needed for patients >18 years of age.
• Assists the dentist in completion of dental exam and procedure documentation and closes procedure codes at end of each visit.
• Maintaining productivity of 6-8 patient per day.
• The secondary role includes assisting in completion of the office maintenance tasks:
• Maintains proper inventory by monitoring material supply, instrument and equipment function and availability, and removing expired materials and damaged instruments.
• Prepares, orders, and organizes dental supplies under the supervision of the office manager and the dentist.
• Maintains Log Manuals as directed by the office manager and the dentist.
• Maintains dental equipment by changing filters, solutions, or chemicals following manufacturer’s recommendations, and cleans dental equipment in accordance with OSHA and CDC standards.
• Completes any necessary paperwork/data entry required into eCW medical record.
• Tertiary role: Assists Patient Service Representatives in communication with patients and scheduling.
• Perform follow up phone calls.
• Provide scheduling recommendations and assistance scheduling appointments.
• Presents treatment plans prepared by the dentist and obtains patient and or parent signatures.
• Provide patient education, including oral hygiene and post-operative instructions.
• Prepares, scans, and or faxes referral, medical clearance, and other forms as needed.
• May be required to travel to other HFHC locations as needed.
• Assists with other clinical and office duties as assigned by the senior dental assistant, supervising dentist, dental practice manager, and or chief dental officer.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand or sit chairside for extended periods of time.