Dental Assistant EFDA

Dental Assistant EFDA, Community Smiles

Valley Health Partners, Easton PA

Job Summary:

Assists dentist(s) during the examination and treatment of patients within the dental medicine program of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center (VHP). Maintains treatment rooms, laboratory, instruments, and equipment and. Sterilizes dental instruments. The Expanded Function Dental Assistant may place tooth sealants and apply fluoride treatments. Assists with clerical duties as directed, when necessary. This position will primarily focus on providing dental care on the mobile dental unit and will serve a mostly pediatric population.

Qualifications:

Education:

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent.
• Postsecondary nondegree award, preferred.

Experience:

• Three years of dental assisting experience in a healthcare setting.
• More than two years of experience as an Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA), preferred.
• Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) experience in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) setting, preferred.

Certificate/Training:

• Certified Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) upon hire.
• Successful completion of Radiation Health and Safety Exam (RHS) from Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) upon hire
• BLS (Basic Life Support Training) upon hire.

Skills Needed:

• Possesses basic computer skills and digital radiology knowledge.
• Has knowledge and observation of dental specialties, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, extractions, prosthetics, and pedodontics.
• Has experience in chair side assisting skills, previous experience in oral surgery, restorative dentistry, and prosthetic dentistry.
• Has ability and desire to provide culturally sensitive, compassionate, and patient-centric care through outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish, preferred.

Essential Functions:

• Assembles and sets up equipment and supplies necessary for patient treatment.
• Documents patient safety issues as needed into the designated reporting system.
• Performs basic dental radiographic procedures and ensures radiological exposure protection for patients.
• Takes impressions of the mouth and pours models for a variety of purposes.
• Performs clean-up activities in the operatory, observing safety and infection control policies, procedures, and protocols in handling instruments, equipment, and supplies.
• Isolates appropriate teeth to be repaired by applying rubber dam; prepares tooth for filling by placing matrix band with retainers if needed; cleans debris from cavity; dries tooth thoroughly; applies sealants and medications as directed; prepares proper restorative materials such as amalgam and composite fillings; fills prepared tooth by using necessary hand instruments; carves, finishes, and polishes restorations using rotary and hand instruments to achieve proper anatomy; checks occlusion of the teeth before releasing patient.
• Places tooth restorations.
• Performs infection control of instruments in sterilization room.
• Provides chair side assistance and aid to dentists, as directed.
• Review dental records with patients, providing instruction on postoperative procedures
• Instructs children and adults in the health center, at schools and in the community on proper dental care and oral hygiene.
• May train, supervise, and direct lower level dental auxiliary personnel.
• Escorts patients into treatment room, provides assistance as necessary utilizing good body mechanics for patient.
• Rooms patients in Electronic Medical Record. Reports relevant patient/visitor requests and concerns as appropriate; communicates observations related to patient health.
• Performs clerical and administrative duties, as necessary based on operational program needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits:

• Choice of medical, dental, and vision plans with great coverage at VERY affordable rates. Employee-only coverage is FREE!
• 403b Retirement Plan with generous company match
• Paid Time Off for holidays, vacation, sick & personal days
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement