Dental Assistant

Candidate must be able to commit to 4, 10-hour shifts and be able to commute to Little Egg Harbor site and on occasion Lakewood site as well.  

Position Summary

Reporting to the RN/DON, the Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting the Dentist in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients of the center. The Dental Assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies.

Responsibilities

• Works under the supervision of the Dentist.
• Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering their questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the Dentist.
• Assists Dentist in chair side procedures routinely done in a general dental practice.
• Prepares operatory for patient treatment as per Dental Department protocols and the Dentist’s directions.
• Exposes and electronically processes digital images and evaluates images for diagnostic quality in accordance with state regulations and laws as well as Dental Department directives and protocols.
• Performs   independent procedures as delegated and directed by the Dentist in   accordance with state regulation law and Dental Department directives and protocols.
• Maintains sterilizations of all instruments used for dental procedures and ensuring all are washed first, then placed in the ultrasonic for the proper time, dried, bagged and then autoclaved.  After the cycle, ensures instruments are properly inventoried and stored.
• Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and protocols as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues. 
• Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual  item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
• Proficient in Electronic Medical Records.
• Responsible for the preparation and setting up of instruments, materials and equipment necessary for each procedure.
• Maintains unit logs and compiles laboratory data.
• Participates in all safety programs which may include assignment to an Emergency Response Team.

Education/Experience/Licensure

• Graduate from an accredited dental assistant program.
• One to two years of dental experience in healthcare setting is preferred.
• Basic Life Support for providers through the American Heart Association is required.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred.
• Active New Jersey Radiological Technology License is required.
• Certified Ambulatory Surgery Sterile Processing Technician (6 months to complete from hire date).