Dental Assistant II

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

32d•Onsite

About The Position

This position assists faculty members and residents in caring for patients at the chairside, which includes four-handed dentistry, mixing materials, and patient communication. It also involves laboratory work such as fabricating casts and prostheses. The role requires taking impressions, polishing restorations, placing matrices and wedges, fabricating and placing temporary fillings, and processing dental x-ray film. Additionally, the Dental Assistant II will perform tasks like giving fluoride treatments, teaching oral hygiene, removing dressings and sutures, packing extraction areas, and delivering sedative medications. The position also involves assisting in the administration of nitrous-oxide analgesia, placing retraction cord, selecting denture shades, applying sealants, and applying rubber band separations for orthodontic treatment. Responsibilities include cleaning, packaging, and sterilizing instruments, organizing, inventorying, and ordering supplies, and staying updated on new equipment, materials, and techniques through in-service training and continuing education. The role may also involve assisting in other duties as assigned by a supervisor or program director, and initiating/responding to patient-related communications in the absence of a patient coordinator, including performing clerical duties like scheduling appointments and filing charts.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Three years of relevant experience
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary (EFDA) Certification demonstrating the successful completion of training as specified in Chapter 64B5-16, Florida Administrative Code.
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
Self-motivation

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).
Take impressions for study models and opposing models for bridge work; mechanical polishing to amalgam restorations, clinical crowns and supragingival areas.
Place matrix and wedge; remove excess cement, fabricate, place, and remove temporary fillings; expose and process dental x-ray film.
Give fluoride treatments; teach oral hygiene; remove dry socket dressing and periodontal pak, remove sutures; pack and medicate extraction areas; deliver a sedative drug capsule to patient.
Assist in the administration of nitrous-oxide analgesia; placement of retraction cord; select denture shade and mold; acid etch and apply sealants; apply rubber band separations for orthodontic treatment.
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 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 clerical duties (appointing patients, copying, and filing patient charts).