Registered Dental Assistant

MIDLAND COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INC.

Midland, Texas

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:                                       REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT

DEPARTMENT:                                 DENTAL CLINIC

REPORTS TO:                                   CLINIC MANAGER

OES CODE:                                       31-9091

FLSA EXEMPTIONS STATUS:          NON-EXEMPT

JOB SUMMARY

Registered Dental Assistants play an important supporting role to the Dentist of Midland Community Healthcare Services.  They are expected to provide excellent customer service and patient care. They should assist the Dentist with equipment, and procedures, operations in order to make for ease of patient use. They should also maintain the information of the clinic patients in a manner consistent with dental, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. As well as process, maintain, compile, and report for health requirements, standards, and quality improvement.

JOB DUTIES

• Prepare operatory, equipment, instruments/hand pieces, and the patient for dental exams and procedures.


• Clean operatory, equipment, and instruments/hand pieces following patient visits.


• Sterilize and disinfect dental equipment and instruments/hand pieces for infection control.


• Maintain charting of patient encounter and treatment plans in approved electronic format.


• Obtain medical and dental histories and vital signs, documenting in electronic charting format.


• Complete dental diagnostic imaging as appropriate by visit type and last imaging date.


• Provide general oral hygiene as well as pre/post-operative instructions as prescribed by the Dentist.


• Monitor inventories of supplies and equipment ensuring that the proper ordering agent is notified of deficiencies.


• Assist Dentist in all procedures and dental visits.


• Complete dental visit per Dentist instructions.


• Clean and polish removable appliances.


• Make impressions for dental appliances, prepare models, and make bleaching trays.


• Maintain logs for case specimens sent to lab.


• Maintain Quality Assurance Measures (Change Traps, Cold Sterile, Monitor Strips, Autoclave Monitoring, and Bio Test Logs)


• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly checks according to quality measures with regard to oxygen level, suction, fluid/oxygen lines.  


• Stock, clean, and sterilize the dental laboratory area ensuring proper infection control and quality assurance measures are followed.


• Refer patients to other providers internal and external as appropriate, assuring proper documentation of such referrals.


• Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.


• Participate in cross-training opportunities in order to help the clinic operate as a whole.


• Send patient correspondence as required through clinic procedure.


• Performs other duties as assigned by the Clinic Manager, Registered Dental Assistant Lead or Dentist.
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• No Supervisory Responsibilities are included in this position.

CRITICAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Customer Service Oriented.


• Oral Comprehension, Expression, Recognition, and Clarity.


• Written Comprehension and Expression.


• Computer & Technology Skills - The ability to navigate and utilize Microsoft Office, and the ability to learn to navigate and utilize proprietary medical software packages.


• Time Management – The ability to prioritize tasks in order to best serve the patient and the flow of the clinic.


• Cultural Competency – the ability to deal with people of various cultures and social status, as well as outside entities

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Registered Dental Assistant Licenses as conferred by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.


• Must have a High School Diploma or G.E.D.


• 1-3 years of customer service experience preferred.


• 1-3 years of dental office experience preferred.


• No felony results on a criminal background screening.


• Drug Screen Test with a negative result.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS

BBP Class I:  This job involves the potential exposure to blood borne pathogens due to required job tasks that routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids, tissues or potential splashes. Job duties also involve exposure to latex products, exposure to potential punctures while performing job duties, and exposure to potential fumes.

Physical Demand:  Ability to interact with patients and operate office equipment for patient services.  Employees will need the ability to lift a minimum of 25 lbs, or more, independently as necessary.  Vision abilities are required to read and verify patient information, to read information on medical records, and the read information on computer systems.  Ability to pull, push, lift, and manipulate equipment and files. The ability to move freely about the front office and medical record areas in order to perform the job duties is required.  In compliance with EEOC 29 CFR part 1630, reasonable accommodations will be made for those employees with disabilities in order to assist them in performing the job duties and demands, provided it does not constitute undue hardship upon MCHS.

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Employee                                                                                   Date