Expanded Function Dental Assistant - Kokomo, IN

SUMMARY:

This position is primarily responsible for supporting dental care delivery by preparing the treatment room, patient, instruments, and materials; passing instruments and materials; and performing procedures in compliance with the Dental Practice Act.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Core duties and responsibilities include the following: Other duties may be assigned. Place and condense amalgam . Place and finish the composite.
• Operate x-ray equipment
• Prepares the treatment room for patients by following prescribed procedures and protocols. Prepares patients for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating and draping them. Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.

Provides instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to the treatment area; positioning instruments for the dentist's access; suctioning; and passing instruments.

• Provides materials by selecting, mixing and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
• Provides diagnostic information by exposing and developing radiographic studies, pouring, trimming and polishing study casts.
• Maintains the patient's appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations and cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
• Helps dentists manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supplies and emergency telephone directory.
• Educates patients by giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions. Documents dental care services by charting them in patient records.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Ensures the operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements, following the manufacture's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies and verifying receipt of supplies.
• Conserves dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
• Participates in office-site marking activities.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

COMPETENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Intellectual

? Problem Solving: identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Works well in group problem-solving situations. ? Technical Skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

Interpersonal

• Customer Service: manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs. Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service assistance; Meets commitments.
• External Working Relationship's: Develops and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with clients, vendors and/or any other representative of external organizations.Organization

• Business Acumen: Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Analyzes market and competition; and adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Cost Consciousness: works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost-saving measures.
• Business Necessity: The needs of the employer may be dependent on responding to and anticipating rapidly changing external and internal demands in all aspects of how business is conducted. This may include, but is not limited to, organization structure, finances, goals, personnel, work processes, technology, and customer demands. Therefore, it may become necessary to make modifications to how business is conducted and work is accomplished with minimal or no advance notice to employees. Accordingly, the employee must be capable of adapting, with minimal or no advance notice, to changes in how business is conducted and work is accomplished with no diminishment in work performance
• Safety and Security: All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or experience

one-year certificate from college or technical school; or three to six months of related experience and/or training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of: Internet software; Spreadsheet software; and Word Processing software. Experience with Open Dental is a plus.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

X-ray License; Certified Dental Assistant certificate

OTHER SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

DANB RHS or CDA exam plus a state-run on-the-job training program or ADA-approved college dental assisting program to obtain a state x-ray operator equipment license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly (1/3 to 2/3 of the time) required to stand and walk. The employee is frequently (over 2/3 of the time) required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally (under 1/3 of the time) required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must frequently lift (over 2/3 of the time) and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally (under 1/3 of the time) lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly (1/3 to 2/3 of the time) exposed to working near moving mechanical parts and vibration.

The employee is occasionally (under 1/3 of the time) exposed to fumes or airborne particles and is at risk of electrical shock.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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