Dental Assistant

LOCATION: S. Los Angeles Clinic

JOB SUMMARY: The Dental Assistant’s primary responsibility is to assist during treatment, to prepare the examination rooms for appointments, sterilize instruments, take radiographs, and ensure all necessary equipment is ready for the dentist. The Dental Assistant may also be responsible for greeting patients as they arrive, submitting billing details to the insurance company and scheduling the patient’s next appointment before they leave the clinic. Additional duties and responsibilities are outlined below. 

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Dental Lead

JOB DUTIES: 

• Assisting the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures
• Taking dental radiographs (x-rays)
• Charting patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse
• Ensuring that proper infection control protocol is followed and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment
• Helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
• Providing patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures, such as the placement of a restoration (filling)
• Providing patients with appropriate oral hygiene strategies/instructions to maintain good oral health (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
• Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a computer
• Communicating with patients and suppliers (e.g., scheduling appointments, answering the telephone, billing and ordering supplies)
• Helping to provide patient care in all aspects of dentistry
• Punctuality and Attendance: This is an essential job duty for CCCHC’s employees given the impact on patients.
• All duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Ability to perform skillfully and effectively the duties of a dental assistant  
• Work efficiently with individuals and follow oral and written instructions  
• Sound judgment, tact, discretion, and confidentiality are mandatory  
• Requires a professional, pleasant, and effective representation of the organization and its values

QUALIFICATIONS:   

• High school graduate 
• Proof of completing radiation safety course 
• Experience as a dental assistant is a plus
• Certification as a dental assistant or registered dental assistant required 
• Certificate for coronal polishing recommended
• Demonstrate knowledge of dental health subjects
• Ability to complete forms/charts in an orderly and accurate fashion
• Calm disposition and the ability to work easily with people

Working Conditions

• Ability to handle multiple tasks while also being tactful, diplomatic, and empathetic  
• Ability to organize, schedule work effectively, and work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with patients, providers, managers and other levels of personnel, in person and/or on the telephone
• Ability to pay close attention to detail
• Ability to maintain composure under conditions of urgency and/or time constraint
• Commitment to quality healthcare and excellent customer service