Dental Assistant

Heart City Health•Elkhart, IN

12d

About The Position

The dental assistant provides quality care and services to patients by assisting dentists and other staff in a variety of patient care, office and laboratory duties. Affect the efficiency and productivity of patient flow through timely, accurate, and professional preparation of patients and patient information, including taking and processing x-rays.

Requirements

Must have an Expanded Functions certification.
Minimum of 1-2 years experience as an expanded duties dental assistant
Must have a current Indiana x-ray license
Must have a current CPR card
Excellent communication skills; active listening as well as written and oral comprehension/communication skills; Gives full attention to what individuals are saying, understands the point being made, asks appropriate questions to gain better knowledge of situation(s) and repeats information to ensure understanding.
Excellent customer service skills; actively seeks ways to assist individuals within the scope of assigned duties
Good computer skills; Windows, Word and Excel specifically; Dentrix exposure preferred
Good time management skills; self-evaluates the use of time and understands how others may be affected
Cultural diversity awareness and skills; respects all people regardless of race, nationality or social standing
Ability to work independently (self-motivating) and as part of a team
Ability to multi-task; comfortable in a fast-paced environment
Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, providers, managers, patients and vendors
Problem sensitivity skills; empathetic/understanding
Deductive reasoning and problem-solving skills
Organized and detail-oriented

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/Spanish) language skills preferred
N2O2 Certificate

Responsibilities

Prepares and maintains dental instruments, materials, and equipment.
Collect and record patient health histories (dental and medical) and record information for dentist’s reference prior to examination.
Help patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.
Take and process x-rays.
Assist dentist chair-side by organizing and preparing instruments for dentist’s use and assisting as needed during procedures.
Advise patients in oral hygiene and dental care.
Follow through with post-visit duties.
Backup the PSR positions, provide relief and support to PSR functions and perform office duties as requested.
Interact positively with a diverse, sometimes difficult, and demanding patient population. Provide service in a manner that is appropriate for the patient’s age; demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to meet the patient’s physical, psychosocial, educational, and safety needs.
Demonstrate commitment to the mission of the organization in promoting dental health.
Read, write, and maintain patient records and related administrative documentation.
Utilize the requisite tools, systems, technology, and equipment in the collection of patient data, records management, and collections.
Demonstrate knowledge of dentistry procedures, clinic infection control procedures, cleaning and sterilization of instruments, tray setup and materials.
Takes dental radiographs
Assists hygienist as needed (coronal polishing and topical fluoride application if additional training has been completed)
Takes preliminary dental impressions and bite registrations for crowns
Fabricates temporary crowns
Applies pit and fissure sealants
Fits and places temporary crowns
Removes excess cement from fabricated restorations
Places amalgams/composites as requested by dentist
Schedules appointments and makes confirmation calls as needed using proper telephone etiquette
Pulls and/or files patient charts as needed
Answers phones as needed
Completes no-show letters weekly
Sends emails including radiographs to referral sources weekly
Affect favorable billing and collection outcomes.
Develop favorable relationships with all patients.
Establish favorable working relationships with all staff members associated with clinic operations, including Patient Services Reps (PSR)), dental hygienists, dentists, and related staff.
Other duties as assigned