Dental Assistant

Hampton Roads Community Health Center; Portsmouth (VA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Hampton Roads Community Health Center in Portsmouth, VA is seeking Dental Assistants to join its dental team. You will support clinical operations, prepare patients, and assist providers. The role emphasizes infection control, charting, and patient education to improve community oral health.

The ideal candidate has a dental assistant credential and CPR, with a focus on four-handed dentistry and HIPAA compliance, contributing to a compassionate and efficient patient care environment.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited dental assistant program with 2+ years of related dental assistant experience.
• Current Radiation Certification and CPR certification; subject to credentialing.
• HIPAA privacy knowledge and ability to safeguard patient information.

Responsibilities

• Maintain efficient operations on the clinical floor; prepare patients for procedures; perform four-handed dentistry and preventive procedures; assist with x-rays and patient education; maintain patient records as directed.
• Prepare examination rooms; sterilize instruments; follow OSHA infection control guidelines; maintain logs as required.
• Schedule patients for the Healthy Smiles Dental Center and School Dental Program; assist with mobile unit operations and inventory; support charting and unit cleanliness.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

HIPAA Knowledge

Customer Service

Technology Proficiency

Office Computer Skills

Time Management

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Judgment & Prioritization

Education

Dental Assistant Certification or Diploma

CPR Certification

Radiation Certification

Job description

Position Overview

The Hampton Roads Community Health Center is looking for Dental Assistants to join their dental team. As a Dental Assistant, you will help support the clinical needs of the community health center's patients and doctors. You will have the support and training you need to maximize your career potential and help make a difference in your community one healthy smile at a time.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain efficient operations on the clinical floor; assess patients and prepare patients for procedure in a timely manner with regard to maintaining patient flow and anticipating the needs of the Provider; perform fourhanded dentistry, preventive procedures such as dental prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, dental x-rays, dental education, screening, and dental sealants or as directed by the Virginia Board of Dentistry; perform patient record keeping as directed.
• Prepares the examination rooms for appointments by sterilizing instruments and ensuring all necessary equipment is ready for the dentist; practices infection control procedures and maintains lab, extraction, and infection control logs according to guidelines set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• Schedules patients to accommodate the Healthy Smiles Dental Center and the School Dental Program; demonstrates start up and break down procedures for the Mobile Dental Unit to include, securing all items for transport, and general maintenance of dental equipment; assists the Mobile Unit Coordinator with charts and maintaining the general cleanliness of the mobile unit; monitors inventory, and stocks patient exam rooms.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited dental assistant program and two (2) or more years of related dental assistant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have a current Radiation Certification and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification. Subject to credentialing.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Dental Assistant - Ability to assist the dentist using four-handed dental assisting techniques. HIPAA - Knowledge of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure the privacy and safeguard patient information.
• HIPAA - Knowledge of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure the privacy and safeguard patient information.
• Customer Service - Considerable knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service. This includes meeting quality standards for service.
• Technology - Knowledge of general office equipment and personal computers to include word processing, spreadsheet, and related software. Comprehensive knowledge of office systems, practices, procedures, and administration.
• Computer Skills - Utilizes a personal computer with word processing, spreadsheet, and related software to effectively complete a variety of financial tasks with reasonable speed and accuracy.
• Time Management - Plans and organizes daily work routine. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Implements work activities in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.
• Interpersonal Relationships - Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with employees and all levels of management to include representatives from other departments and organizations.
• Communication - Ability to effectively communicate ideas and proposals verbally and in writing, to include the preparation of detailed logs which include numerical information.
• Judgment/Decision Making - Evaluates the best method of research and then exercises appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and resolving complex matters. Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one