Certified Dental Assistant

Under general supervision, provides a range of clinical, administrative and staff support.  Assists in the performance of dental and radiography procedures, prepares and maintains dental equipment and supplies in accordance with established PCHC protocols and policies.  Assists in the coordination of day-to-day patient administration, records management, and office support activities.  Performs eligible clinical procedures at the request of site management.  Assists in the clinical training of new and returning employees.  Travels to other health center sites with staff Dentists. 

Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Provide chair-side assistance to dentist and/or dental hygienist in the performance of dental procedures, to include operative, preventive, periodontal, endodontic, prosthetic, and oral surgical procedures.  
• Prepare, sterilize, organize and set up dental instruments and equipment, ensures that all dental instruments are cleaned, dated, and processed according to established clinic guidelines and standards.   
• Monitors and maintains dental equipment, such as compressors, evacuator systems, radiographic developing equipment, sterilizers, and light-curing units, in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines.  
• Polish teeth of patients under 5 years of age, place sealants and apply fluoride (including varnish) without direct supervision by a Dentist.  
• Apply topical anesthetic and desensitizing agents, place/remove dental dams, place temporary restorations, remove excess cement on coronal surfaces, fabricate athletic mouth guards and occlusal guards without direct supervision by a Dentist.  

Qualifications: 

• Basic Life Support/CPR certification required.
• Must maintain current CDA Certification, and successfully meet the requirements to be credentialed by PCHC.  
• Current knowledge of and ability to follow a full range of dental clinic procedures and protocols.
• Ability to work as a team member with the PCHC dental clinic.
• Knowledge of supplies, equipment and inventory control.
• Knowledge of sterilization procedures.
• Knowledge of radiation safety procedures, standards and protocols.
• Ability to develop and process dental radiographs.
• Ability to setup and prepare dental equipment and instruments in accordance with established clinical regulations and guidelines.
• Knowledge of patient evaluation and triage procedures.
• Knowledge of PCHC institutional regulations and guidelines for the provision of dental outpatient services including scheduling and record maintenance.  
• Ability to work in a fast paced clinical environment where the early emphasis will be on Pediatric dentistry.  
• Effective telephone skills needed to receive/relay and place telephone calls continually throughout the day.  
• Clear diction and unhampered conversational skills for conversing with a multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual patient base.    
• Ability to perform duties/responsibilities across life cycle of patients (children, adolescents, adults and geriatric).
• Ability to read, write, comprehend and speak both English and Spanish fluently.  
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance policy and procedure manuals.  
• Ability to communicate with people of various diverse backgrounds in a sensitive and compassionate way.

Education:

• Completion of a 12 or 18 month dental assisting program and continued certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB).
• Computer proficiency.
• Ability to gain proficiency in Intergy Practice Management Software and Dentrix and provide training.

 PCHC is EOE/M/F/D/V/SO