Dental Assistant I

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

18h•Onsite

About The Position

This position assists faculty members and residents in caring for patients at the chair (four-handed dentistry, mixing materials, patient communication, etc.) and in the laboratory (fabricating casts and fabricating prostheses, etc.). The role involves setting up and breaking down dental operatories, maintaining instruments and equipment, and assisting patients into and out of treatment chairs. The Dental Assistant I will also assist in emergency medical procedures, clean and sterilize instruments, organize and order supplies, and stay updated on new equipment and techniques. Additionally, the position may involve responding to patient-related communications and performing clerical duties such as scheduling and filing patient charts.

Requirements

High school diploma and one year of appropriate experience
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Appropriate college course work or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.

Nice To Haves

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
Radiology certificate
Dental assisting experience
Knowledge of dental terminology
Dental assisting skills
Social skills; work well with a variety of administrative staff members, faculty members, dental students, and patients
Organizational skills
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
Ability to carry out duties with minimal instruction
Ability to instruct patients in dental techniques
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to pay close attention to detail
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
Ability to communicate effectively verbally with individuals of varied educational, social, and economic backgrounds
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Good visual acuity to manipulate dental materials safely
Ability to bend repeatedly

Responsibilities

Assist faculty members and residents in caring for patients at the chair (four-handed dentistry, mixing materials, patient communication, etc.) and in the laboratory (fabricating casts and fabricating prostheses, etc.)
Set up/break down dental operatories for patient appointments; maintain instruments, equipment, and operatories in good and clean condition.
Assist patients (including the disabled) into and out of dental operatories and treatment chairs; assist/perform emergency medical procedures (closed cardiac compression, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and oxygen administration) as required.
Clean, package, and sterilize instruments.
Organize, inventory, and order supplies.
Become familiar with new equipment, materials, and techniques through participation in in-service training and continuing-education programs.
Assist in any other duties deemed necessary by supervisor and/or program director.
Initiate and respond to oral, telephonic, and written communication related to patient care as required in the absence of patient coordinator (appointments, consultations, and emergencies); when required, perform related clerical duties (appointing, copying, and filing patient charts).