Lead Dental Assistant

CCAP Mission Statement - To empower all people and communities, challenged by poverty as well as social and cultural barriers, through advocacy, education, and access to high quality health and human services.

JOB SUMMARY:

Responsible for assisting the dentist(s) and dental hygienist(s) in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients of the center. Additionally, The Lead Dental Assistant is responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies. 

WORK SCHEDULE DEMANDS:

• The position is full-time, 38 hours per week.
• 4 day work week.
• Occasional unscheduled overtime may be required in the event of vacation time or short staffing.
• Due to the nature of the job, this individual must be flexible with their schedule to accommodate the client population.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or GED certificate
• Completion of accredited course in dental assisting
• CDA certification
• Effective oral and written communication skills in English are required
• Effective oral communication skills in Spanish, preferred.
• Current CPR (BLS) required
• Provide/maintain all required immunizations and/or vaccinations
• Complete all required background checks

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead Dental Assistant Significant Job Functions:

• Training dental assistants on treatment plans and making sure they are entered correctly. 
• Assigning dental assistants to Providers. 
• Ensuring patient flow is running efficiently. 
• Assist the Dental Administrator in providing coverage when a dental assistant is out sick or on vacation. 
• Taking initiative to ensure the clinic runs fluently. 
• Ensuring all equipment is performing correctly and maintained regularly. 
• Providing input for annual staff evaluations. 

Dental Assistant Significant Job Functions:

• Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering their questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist or dental hygienist. 
• Serves as dentist’s or dental hygienist’s chair-side assistant. 
• Prepares operatory for patient treatment as per Dental Department protocols and the dentist’s or dental hygienist’s directions. 
• Exposes and develops dental radiographs in accordance with state regulations and law as well as Dental Department directive and protocol. 
• Ensures the sterility of all reusable dental instruments and equipment in accordance with Dental Department directive and protocol. rtment directive and protocol. 
• Maintains Dental Department equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s directions and Dental Department policy and protocol. 
• Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and protocols as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues. 
• Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes. 
• Maintains a list of all Dental Department patients, monitors patient flow, and assists the Dental Director, dentist(s) and dental hygienist(s) in assuring that all patient records and documents are properly and accurately completed and filed. 
• Pulls and files patient charts as required. 
• Receives and places necessary telephone calls consistent with professional matters, clinic business and patient care of the Dental Department. 
• Assists with various clinical and administrative functions of the center as appropriate and time permits. 
• Insures the sterility of all reusable dental instruments and equipment in accordance with Dental Department directive and protocol.
• Insures the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental Department directive, center policy as well as state and federal regulation(s).
• Performs all functions in full compliance with the centers and the Dental Department Exposure Control Plan including but not limited to the use of Personal Protective Equipment and Universal Precautions.
• Participates in appropriate health promotion / disease prevention activities, both on-site and off-site as required.
• Travels when necessary to meet operational needs.
• As directed by a supervisor, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives.
• Ability to attend to multiple tasks at the same time and to prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols.
• Other duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Requires a comprehensive knowledge of dental assisting techniques and procedures for all phases of general dentistry. 
• Knowledge of modern dental materials, their storage, handling and applications is required.
• The Lead Dental Assistant must be cognizant of the expectations and concerns of the center’s dental patients and be able to respond in an empathetic and professional manner.
• The ability to work with persons from a wide diversity of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds is necessary.
• The Lead Dental Assistant must be able to creatively work with other health care professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal results for the center’s patient from a system of integrated primary health care.

CCAP strives to cultivate and sustain a workforce devoted to providing compassionate and respectful care to all patients and clients. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Our Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 403(b), health insurance, vision and dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement accounts, tuition reimbursement up to $1,000 annually, Employee Assistance Program, generous vacation, sick and personal days, and up to 13 available paid holidays for full-time employees and some benefits are included for part-time employees.