Dental Assistant / Front Office Hybrid

Minimum Requirements :

Valid Oregon Dental Assistant Certification, including x-ray certification

Minimum one year experience in the dental industry

Excellent telephone etiquette and communication skills

Proficient computer skills, experience with Dentrix is helpful

Ability to maintain outgoing, friendly attitude under pressure

Ability to work with interruptions and to manage multiple priorities

Physical Requirements :

Must be able to meet the physical requirements and demands of an active position, including but not limited to : extended durations of standing, walking, stooping, bending and sitting; manual dexterity; good hand-eye coordination; visual abilities (depth perception, ocular focus, close vision, color vision, and peripheral vision), and adequate hearing to perform daily work. Must be able to adjust physically and emotionally to a spontaneous, fast-paced and hectic environment.

The Ideal Hire :

Is a team player. We are an interdependent team and we help each other out to get things done and take care of patients.

Has a positive attitude.

Is growth-oriented and has a willingness to learn.

Has good self-awareness and a drive for improvement.

Is adaptable. We are a growing practice and team. No two days are the same, and we value team members who can see a need and fill it.

Has high standards for patient care.

Has empathetic and educational communication skills. We strive to understand, accept, inform, and motivate patients to help them achieve oral health.

Has great time management skills. We value our time and our patients’ time and strive to stick to the schedule.

Is proficient with computer systems. We currently use Dentrix, Dexis, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Practice by Numbers, and Slack, and we will continue to incorporate new hardware and software to improve efficiency and patient care.

Job Duties & Responsibilities :

Represent office with a pleasant demeanor and positive attitude

Promote the practice with enthusiasm and represent the practice philosophy for patient care and teamwork

Answer the telephone per office protocols

Check voicemails and emails and respond promptly. Manage / change the voicemail system as needed

Greet and welcome patients and visitors, check in patients and greet by name, alert staff of arrival

Gather, update and maintain patient contact and insurance information

Document all New Patient referral sources and emails

Optimize utilization of patient communication system (PbN) for new and existing patients

Confirm upcoming appointments

Document all patient conversations in practice software

Ensure necessary forms are sent to patients prior to appointment, remind and assist patients in completing forms

Follow up on no shows and cancellations

Collect payments in person or over the phone and ensure ledgers are current and accurate

Act as a liaison for specialist offices by helping patients schedule, r eview reports from specialty offices, and contact patients to schedule their next step as appropriate

Scan all pertinent patient documentation

Keep reception area tidy, organized and stocked

Select and set up instruments, equipment, and materials for procedures, following office protocols

Obtain, review, and report health histories according to office protocol

Expose dental x-rays and care for dental x-ray equipment

Take intraoral photos and intraoral scans

Help patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment, including offering comfort items (pillow, blanket, earplugs)

Efficiently and cheerfully assist the doctor chairside (using the 4 handed approach), making the patient’s comfort top priority

Perform assisting duties as requested by the doctor and as skills and certifications allow – packing cord, fabricating temporaries, and adjusting appliances

Support the doctor in discussions with patients and offer back-up when requested

Document doctor-patient conversations and recommendations

Measure and accurately document vital signs for each patient

Take initiative to watch the office flow and try to keep the schedule moving by helping the doctor move to appropriate operatories for exams or treatment

Monitor patient interactions to ensure the doctor is assisted during any examination or patient conversation when documentation is needed

Sterilize instruments according to regulations

Keep operatories clean and well-stocked, manage inventory and order supplies

Undertake lab tasks as instructed, including communicating with lab

Maintain accurate patient records, including patient histories, exam findings, treatment notes, and patient communication

Provide oral hygiene and post-operative care instructions

Communicate with patients at the end of the procedure about the next appointment by informing the patients about what the treatment is, how long it will take and when the doctor wants to see the patient back

Use route slip effectively to communicate patient next steps to other team members

Schedule appointments and assist with payment procedures

Keep treatment rooms and lab ready, organized, stocked and clean during and after business hours

Disinfect treatment rooms and sterilize instruments and equipment according to OSHA regulations

Perform, and log when necessary, all OSHA sterilization requirements

Promptly and accurately send out and monitor all lab cases. Check and log cases when they return

Implement preventive maintenance / cleaning schedules for dental equipment

Maintain compliance with CDC, OSHA, Risk Management, and safety regulations and guidelines and compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations

Open and close the front and back office according to office procedures and protocol.

Enlist the help of others and offer help when asked

How we support our employees :

We promote work / life balance. It’s important that we enjoy our time at the office, but also that we’re able to have time outside of the office. Lunch breaks are required and using your PTO to take well-earned vacation is encouraged.

A great work schedule. We have an alternating work week of 4 days per week that allows us a 4-day weekend every other week. We finish seeing patients at 4 : 00 every day, so even after notes and closing up, we can be out of the office by 4 : 30, often earlier.

We make sure you have sufficient training. We want you to be comfortable and confident in your job and we provide initial and ongoing training. Growth and improvement are important, so we welcome suggestions you have for improvements in the practice.

We provide great benefits which promote overall employee well-being. We want you to take care of your own physical and financial health.

Benefits Offered :

Paid Time Off    Starting at 3 weeks / yr for full time employees. PTO starts accruing immediately upon hire with no waiting period.

Paid Holidays  6 Paid Holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day). We also try to align our clinic schedule so that many of the Monday holidays fall on our regular days off.

Retirement   SIMPLE IRA with employer match up to 3% of your income.

Medical    Reimbursement for medical expenses, including premiums, copays, and other qualified expenses through a QSEHRA

Dental   Generous  In-house dental benefits for employees and immediate family members.

Continuing Education   We provide annual training and certification on OSHA, HIPAA, Infection Control, and CPR. We also provide additional education / training opportunities on a case by case basis.

About Tualatin Valley Dental

We are a small but growing office dedicated to providing excellent dental care. To us, that means being friendly and empathetic, listening to patient concerns, completing thorough evaluation and diagnosis, educating patients on the condition of their oral health, providing solutions and suggestions, and working together with patients to overcome any obstacles.

We value technology to aid in diagnosis and treatment (and make our lives easier!). We use digital sensors, intraoral cameras, online patient history and consent forms, and will be adding intraoral scanners for diagnosis and for digital impressions.

We value continual improvement and growth. We ask our patients to continually improve their OHI, and believe we should continually improve our own skills and offerings. We value continuing education and staying up to date with treatment protocols and materials.

We offer a range of clinical services including prevention, treatment of periodontal disease, fillings, crowns, root canals, cosmetic dentistry, dentures, and sedation (nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation).

We are a no-drama team that supports each other and works together. You can expect a teammate to help you when you need a hand and we expect you to offer a hand when you can.