Dental Assistant

This position is under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and performs procedures designated under the scope of practice for a registered dental assistant, including certification for exposing and developing radiographs. An employee in this class works as a chair-side dental assistant during the examination and treatment of patients and can expose and develop radiographs.

Minimum Education: High School diploma or equivalent.

Certifications, Licenses:

• Must have valid driver’s license.
• Pre-employment criminal background check is required.

Minimum Experience:

• All applicants must possess current registration as a Dental Assistant in the State of Tennessee with Dental Radiology Certification.
• Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following certifications:
• Coronal Polishing Certification
• Sealant Application Certification
• Restorative Certification
• Prosthetic Certification
• Nitrous Oxide Monitoring Certification

GENERAL POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following duties are normal for this position. However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all– inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may also be required or assigned.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

• Prepares the patient for dental procedures.
• Prepares operatories with appropriate instruments and supplies to be used for dental procedures.
• Performs four-handed chair-side dental assisting.
• Provides appropriate post-treatment care and education of patients.
• Measures and records vital signs.

Training and Teaching Others:

• Provides patient education in proper oral hygiene procedures.
• Provides information concerning oral health practices to internal partners.
• Provides information concerning oral health practices to external partners.
• Provides peer training as designated.

Developing and Building Teams:

• Communicates effectively with peers and subordinates.
• Provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Communicates with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others and maintains them over time.

Documenting/Recording Information:

• Reviews medical history.
• Records patient dental conditions and treatments.
• Maintains charts, records, and reports.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and Tennessee Department of Health guidelines.
• Inspects materials to ensure compliance with expiration dates.
• Maintains current dental license and certification.

Getting Information:

• Compiles information from patients, parents, guardians, and family members in regard to patients’ health and dental needs.
• Compiles information from community resources concerning school transport programs and school-based referrals.
• Incorporates administrative information into the dental program to ensure compliance with administrative policies and updates.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

• Exposes and prepares x-rays for review.
• Meets infection control and safety guidelines.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

• Schedules appointments, answers the telephone, and organizes daily schedule.
• Coordinates and develops opportunities for community outreach and oral health activities.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

• Maintains appropriate inventory for dental service delivery.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

• Inspects equipment to identify the cause of errors or other defects.

Interacting With Computers:

• Enters and verifies data into a computer system.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish duties.

EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE

• Must obtain Coronal Polishing Certification before the 6 month from hire date.
• Must obtain Sealant Application Certification before the 6 month from hire date.
• Adheres to County Government Policy and Procedures.
• Acts as a role model within and outside the work environment.
• Performs duties as workload necessitates.
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude.
• Communicates regularly with supervisor about department issues.
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
• Demonstrates awareness and understanding of the various internal and external cultures that utilize department services.
• Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of the position.
• Meets County Government productivity and quality standards.
• Maintains appropriate customer relations.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no fiscal responsibilities.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS – KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Competencies:

• Action Oriented
• Approachability
• Compassion
• Composure
• Decision Quality
• Ethics and Values
• Functional and Technical Integrity
• Trust

Knowledge:

• Administration
• Clerical Management
• Customer and Personal Service
• Education and Training
• Law and Government
• Mechanical
• Medicine and Dentistry
• Psychology

Skills

• Active Learning
• Active Listening
• Critical Thinking
• Learning Strategies
• Monitoring Reading
• Comprehension
• Science
• Speaking
• Writing
• Coordination
• Instructing
• Persuasion
• Service Orientation
• Social Perceptiveness
• Equipment Maintenance
• Operation and Control
• Operation Monitoring
• Troubleshooting
• Time Management

Abilities:

• Deductive Reasoning
• Fluency of Ideas
• Memorization
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Originality
• Problem Sensitivity
• Selective Attention
• Spatial Orientation
• Time-Sharing
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Control Precision
• Finger Dexterity
• Manual Dexterity
• Multi-Limb Coordination
• Rate Control
• Reaction Time
• Speed of Limb Movement
• Wrist Finger Speed
• Dynamic Flexibility
• Dynamic Strength
• Extent Flexibility
• Gross Body Coordination
• Gross Body Equilibrium
• Stamina
• Trunk Strength
• Auditory Attention
• Depth Perception
• Glare Sensitivity
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Near Vision
• Peripheral Vision
• Sound Localization
• Speech Clarity
• Speech Recognition

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS/ACTIVITIES:

While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to stand, sit and talk or hear. The incumbent frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The incumbent is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, or balance. The incumbent must occasionally lift and move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

The intent of this position description is to provide a representative summary of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and is not a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may also be assigned job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Montgomery County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act of 1966 (Section 1981) and 1964 (Title VI, VII,) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Equal Pay Act (EPA) and the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA).

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $19.74 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20