Dental Assistant I–II (Open Rank)

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

3d•$42,156 - $47,798•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Colorado, College of Nursing, is hiring a full-time, benefits-eligible Dental Assistant I or II for Sheridan Health Services, a multi-site, nurse-managed Federally Qualified Health Center in southwest Denver. The position provides quality oral health care to patients at community clinic sites serving adults and children. The clinic provides care to a diverse community, including patients who are best served in languages other than English, and follows a Patient-Centered Medical Home model that places patients and their values and beliefs at the center of care. The Dental Assistant supports dentists, hygienists, faculty, dental students, and other team members in clinical and administrative work. Duties include preparing patients and clinical areas, assisting with dental procedures, maintaining instruments and supplies, taking radiographs, performing sterilization and infection-control procedures, and supporting clinic operations such as scheduling, records, payment collection, insurance authorization, and treatment-plan estimates. The position is onsite at Sheridan Health Services in southwest Denver and may involve work at other community clinic locations based on departmental needs. The Dental Assistant II performs work of greater complexity and additionally may make temporary crowns; train new hires and externs; place and remove retraction cords and matrix bands; polish teeth; apply fluoride; provide pre- and post-operative and oral-hygiene instructions; and chart existing restorations or conditions. The position may include evening hours and weekends as needed for promotional events, and involves some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.

Requirements

Dental Assistant I: Graduate of an accredited dental assistant training program, or one year of dental assistant experience in substitution for program completion.
Dental Assistant II: Graduate of an accredited dental assistant training program, or one year of dental assistant experience in substitution for program completion, plus one year of experience as a dental assistant.
Meet the applicable minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.
Be willing and able to obtain current BLS/CPR certification by the date of hire.
Be willing and able to remain credentialed and keep credentialing materials current.
Be willing and able to work weekends as needed for promotional events and evening hours based on departmental needs.
Be willing and able to work in a patient-care environment with some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.
Be willing and able to provide oral health care at Sheridan Health Services and other community clinic locations based on departmental need.
Demonstrate exemplary patient-care skills, collaboration, social skills, and the ability to work with children and adults.
Have fundamental knowledge of dental materials, including their use, maintenance, and storage.
Have digital competency and familiarity with an Electronic Medical Record program.
Demonstrate organizational skills, prioritization, analytical thinking, and ability to function as a team member.
Be responsible, reliable, welcoming, and friendly.
Maintain sensitive and confidential client information according to HIPAA policy.
Participate in quality-improvement efforts to support continued high-quality care.

Nice To Haves

Dental Assistant I: One year of experience as a dental assistant.
Daily use of Spanish, Dari, Farsi, Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic, or Swahili in addition to English to communicate clinical terminology.
Experience with or formal training in handling bloodborne pathogens.
Experience with or formal training in complying with OSHA Biohazard Safety Standards.
Experience as a dental assistant in a Federally Qualified Health Center, Patient-Centered Medical Home, or community health setting.
Dental Assistant II: One year of experience as a dental assistant in a Federally Qualified Health Center, Patient-Centered Medical Home, or community health setting.
Experience with or formal training in training dental assistant staff.
Experience with or formal training in performing blood glucose checks.
Experience with or formal training in cord placement.
Experience with or formal training in placing provisional crowns, temp-bond use, and finish polishing.
Experience with or formal training in occlusal adjustment.
Experience with or formal training in pulp vitality testing.

Responsibilities

Room patients in dental operatories and collect and record vital signs and blood sugar as indicated.
Prepare and position patients and prepare clinical areas for dental treatment.
Assist dentists, hygienists, faculty, dental students, and other dental team members with four-handed dentistry and a variety of procedures, including surgical, periodontal, and restorative procedures.
Communicate clinical terminology to patients and colleagues in English and another language.
Prepare specialized instrument set-ups and inspect instruments and tools to ensure they are in good working order.
Perform waterline shocking, spore testing, deep cleaning of clinical equipment, and appropriate aseptic and sterilization techniques.
Stock and maintain dental inventory and supplies in treatment rooms.
Take dental intraoral and extraoral radiographs and other images using appropriate techniques and safety equipment; identify and mount images and transfer them into patient charts as directed.
Perform routine clinic administrative work, including Electronic Health Record input and data reporting.
Answer phone calls and schedule appointments for all clinic locations.
Collect patient payments, provide change as needed, reconcile the change bank daily, and submit deposits and deposit reconciliation reports.
Obtain insurance pre-authorizations, assist with insurance claims, verify financial coverage, and coordinate payment plans.
Print and present treatment plans and build and review treatment-plan estimates with patients before they sign.
Ensure compliance with University and professional policies and procedures.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dental equipment; clean, disinfect, and maintain clinical, laboratory, and other community workspaces.
Communicate effectively with team members and participate in meetings; perform other duties as assigned.
At Dental Assistant II level, make temporary crowns; train new hires and externs; place and remove retraction cords and matrix bands; polish teeth; apply fluoride; provide pre-operative, post-operative, and oral-hygiene instructions; and chart existing restorations or conditions.