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Form of workSUMMARY
The expanded duty Dental Assistant will serve an integral role in assisting patients of Dayspring Dental to achieve and maintain optimal oral health. The EDDA will provide educational and clinical services, as well as perform clerical and maintenance tasks to ensure quality, efficient care.
RESPONSIBILITIES Patient Interaction:a.Monitoring schedule to maintain efficient patient flow- Politely ushering patients from waiting area to treatment area
- Preparing patients for treatment (chair positioning, napkin placement, providing patient safety devices, protective eyewear, etc.)
- Providing pre-operative and post-operative instructions
- Addressing patient’s chief complaint and any questions/concerns raised
- Helping patient feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment
- Guiding parents and patients through the process before treatment
- Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health
- Initiates referrals as needed per dentist and arranges appropriate follow-up
- Acts as a communication link between dentist and front desk
- Providing superior customer service to all patients
- Recognizing and responding to basic medical and dental emergencies
- Monitoring patient while nitrous oxide is being administered
- Maintaining patient confidentiality through HIPAA compliance
- Advocating for Dayspring Health and its respective mission
- Participating in local community affairs and events including school screenings, presentations, events, and any opportunity to promote a positive image of Dayspring Health
- Preparing operatory for planned or emergency dental procedures
- Documenting oral examinations, including reviewing/updating medical and dental history
- Taking blood pressure and pulse measurements when needed
- Obtaining radiographic images using appropriate technique, as requested by dentist
- Keeping all operatories appropriately stocked with needed supplies and instruments
- Maintaining and sterilizing all equipment and instruments according to manufacturer and clinic guidelines
- Cleaning clinic’s evacuation system according to equipment guidelines
- Properly disposing of hazardous and infectious waste per policy
- Assisting dentist with a variety of treatment procedures using four-handed dentistry
- Maintaining field of operation during dental procedures through the use of retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, etc.
- Following universal precautions
- Performing efficient and accurate EDDA procedures to help maintain optimal patient flow
- Placing quality amalgam, composite, and preventive resin restorations
- Placing and removing temporary fillings, crowns, and cements
- Placing and removing dental dam, as directed by dentist
- Using appropriate isolation system to ensure quality care
- Fabricating custom trays, impression trays, bleaching trays, and athletic mouth guards
- Cleaning and polishing removable appliances and prostheses
- Applying topical fluoride and pit and fissure sealants
- Fabricating and cementing temporary crowns/bridges
- Fabricating single-tooth flippers
- Removing excess cement from permanent crowns/bridges
- Removing sutures and other post-surgical dressing
- Coronal polishing
- Sizing, fitting, and placing stainless steel crowns on primary molars
- Taking impressions (preliminary and final) and fabricating diagnostic casts
- Performing other Expanded Duties as assigned by dentist
- Performing office management tasks
- Maintaining equipment records for maintenance and operational purposes
- Ordering clinical supplies
- Cross training with front desk to provide coverage as needed
- Completing laboratory authorization forms
- Preparing dental lab boxes and labeling for mailing
- Developing system to manage lab cases and deliveries
- Performing other duties as assigned by management
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: High school diploma. Completion of EDDA program preferred.
Experience: At least 2 years’ experience as EDDA.
Licenses or Certifications:
- EDDA certified (preferred) or a minimum of 2 years’ experience
- Coronal polishing certificate
- Radiography certificate
- Current CPR certificate
Computer Skills:
Basic computer skills are required. Experience with Dentrix software is preferred.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Review the following standards to examine your ability and compatibility with the physical activity and demands of dental hygienists employed by Dayspring Health.
Dental assistants frequently:
- Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Repeat the same movements.
- Sit for long periods of time.
- Bend or twist their body.
It is important for Dental Assistants to be able to:
- See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
- Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
- Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
- Understand the speech of another person.
- Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
- Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
- Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
It is not as important, but still necessary, for Dental Assistants to be able to:
- See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
- See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
- Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
- Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
- Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
- Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
- Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
- Determine the distance between objects.
- Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
- Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
- Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
- Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
- Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
- React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
- Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
- Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
- Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
EVALUATION
The Dental Assistant reports to, is supervised by, and evaluated by the Dental Director and covering Dentist(s). The evaluation of work performance is ongoing. It includes the specific responsibilities of a dental hygienist, as well as employee attitude and general working behavior. Formal evaluations are normally performed annually, but may be initiated at other times by the employee or supervisor.
SALARY
The salaries for all positions are defined by an established base rate plus years of service, experience, and possible additional duty assignments.
