What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dental Assistant position at San Carlos Healthcare Corporation?
The Dental Assistant supports the dental team by performing a range of clinical functions. This position allows the dental team to function more efficiently and better serve the intended population.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (include, but not limited to the following)
- Receives patients, determines chief complaints, reviews medical history prior to exam and updates as appropriate
- Provides chair-side health education information; dismisses patient with proper post-operative instructions
- Obtains and records all patient examination information as directed by dentist
- Provides proper protective apparel to patient, correctly exposes, processes and mounts intra-oral and extra oral radiographs
- Organizes and arranges equipment and materials for dentist
- Retracts patient’s cheek, tongue or other tissues, passes instruments and responds to requests from dentist
- Mixes restorative materials, applies occlusal sealants and topical fluoride and operates suction unit
- Cleans and autoclaves instruments
- Applies rubber dam and places cotton rolls to isolate operative site
- Instructs patient in preventive dental care; demonstrates brushing/flossing techniques and use of disclosing solutions; explains common causes of tooth decay and gum disease
- Participates in departmental orientation, on the job training and quality assurance programs/initiatives
- Participates in a variety of department and hospital educational programs to maintain current skill and competency levels; identifies and discusses performance or training needs with Supervisor
- Ability to perform other duties as assigned
