Dental Assistant — Patient Care & X-Rays

University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania's Penn Dental Medicine at PHMC Health Center in Cedar campus is seeking a Dental Assistant to provide direct patient care and clinical support. The role involves preparing treatment rooms, passing instruments, and supporting student and resident programs.

Responsibilities include charting, radiographs, sterilization, CPR readiness, and educating patients on oral hygiene. Candidates need a technical school/certification with 3+ years in dental care and PA background

Qualifications

• Technical School, Certification, or training required beyond High School and minimum of 3 years of practical experience in a dental care facility or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in Pennsylvania under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must have passed the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam.
• Current CPR certification and BLS required.
• Experience in a higher education dental setting a plus.
• Employment clearance through the State of PA to work on/with children: as determined through Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and FBI Fingerprinting Database is required.
• Experience with AxiUm preferred, experience with other electronic health records required.

Responsibilities

• Prepares patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and obtaining medical history and patient vitals, and draping patient.
• Documents dental care services by charting in patient records.
• Provides materials by mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
• Expose and mount digital x-rays in appropriate digital templates.
• Provides diagnostic information by exposing digital radiographic studies; pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
• Cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
• Educate and motivate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions, presents and explains treatment plans to patients, demonstrates effective communication to bridge the gap between a pending treatment plan and a completed treatment plan, provides postoperative instructions and schedules subsequent visits.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Protects patient and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Performs sterilization cycles of instruments and monitors sterilizer, including spore testing and recording.
• Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
• Conserves dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results; monitors inventory; maintains proper usage and operations of equipment.

Skills

Dental assisting

CPR certification

BLS

Education

Technical School/Certification beyond HS

DANB RHS exam

Tools

AxiUm

Job description

University of Pennsylvania's Penn Dental Medicine at PHMC Health Center in Cedar campus is seeking a Dental Assistant to provide direct patient care and clinical support. The role involves preparing treatment rooms, passing instruments, and supporting student and resident programs.

Responsibilities include charting, radiographs, sterilization, CPR readiness, and educating patients on oral hygiene. Candidates need a technical school/certification with 3+ years in dental care and PA background