Dental Assistant III - Community Dentistry

Creighton University • Omaha, NE

2d

About The Position

The Dental Assistant III for Community Dentistry supports dentists, hygienists, and dental students in teaching and patient care in community-based settings and the dental clinic. The primary patient population is pediatric patients served in elementary schools. The role helps teach best practices in patient care, particularly when working with vulnerable populations.

The Dental Assistant prepares work areas, equipment, instruments, and supplies; maintains equipment and instruments; and ensures appropriate disinfection, transportation, sterilization, and storage. The role helps confirm that treatment authorizations and consents are appropriate and current, medical histories are provided, records are complete and timely, and follow-up care is arranged. The Dental Assistant also guides dental students, collects program or billing data for reporting, and works across multiple sites and care environments.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited dental assisting school with radiology certification.
• At least 10 years of dental assisting experience.
• Experience operating and maintaining dental equipment, especially portable dental units, mobile dental equipment, and portable radiographic equipment.
• Documented experience in complex dental delivery settings.
• Experience in interprofessional communication and interdisciplinary whole-person healthcare.
• Experience with electronic healthcare record systems and medical and dental record-keeping practices.
• Experience applying HIPAA, FERPA, and infection control standards in clinical and community-based settings.
• A valid U.S. driver's license and an acceptable driving record under Creighton's Vehicle Safety policy.
• At least two years of licensed driving experience and age 19 or older at the time of hire.
• Strong interpersonal and human-relations skills, including active listening, empathy, and non-verbal communication.
• Leadership and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks within time constraints and with appropriate urgency.
• Attention to detail and anticipatory judgment regarding patient safety, comfort, and follow-up.
• Competency with Word, Excel, and MS Office.
• Ability to use multiple dental software systems for record keeping, billing, and reporting.
• Knowledge of dental emergency response and medical emergency kits.
• Reliable transportation to commute to multiple sites.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently while maintaining organization.
• Proficiency in electronic health records, Excel databases, and comfort using telehealth as a service delivery method.
• Ability to lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds of mobile dental equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the social services field; the role is anticipated to serve as a liaison between the School of Dentistry and community rotation sites.

Responsibilities

• Support dentists, hygienists, and dental students in teaching and patient care in community-based settings and the dental clinic.
• Help teach best practices in patient care, especially for vulnerable populations.
• Prepare work areas, equipment, instruments, and supplies for patient care.
• Maintain dental equipment and instruments and ensure their proper disinfection, transportation, sterilization, and storage.
• Help ensure treatment authorization and consent are appropriate and current and that updated medical histories are provided.
• Help ensure timely and complete record keeping and arrange appropriate follow-up care.
• Give guidance and direction to dental students.
• Collect program and/or billing data for reporting purposes.
• Assist dental students and faculty working with vulnerable populations, including taking radiographs, suctioning, and passing instruments and materials.
• Apply fluoride varnish, obtain diagnostic radiographs, and provide post-operative or oral hygiene instructions in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner.
• Set up, troubleshoot, maintain, and tear down portable and mobile dental equipment.
• Maintain dental equipment and supply inventories within budget and according to utilization and scope of services.
• Apply infection control and asepsis standards across delivery environments, including decontamination, packaging, sterilization monitoring, logging, tracking, transportation, and storage of instruments, equipment, and PPE.
• Work collaboratively with a healthcare team at multiple locations and maintain organization while working independently.
• Use electronic health records, dental software, databases, and telehealth for documentation, billing, reporting, and service delivery.
• Lift, push, or pull mobile dental equipment weighing up to 25 pounds and transport patients using assistive devices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed