Dental Assistant

Swope Health • Kansas City, MO

11d

About The Position

The Dental Assistant supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment room, patient, instruments, materials, and performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice act. The Dental Assistant is responsible for the performance of chair side duties, assisting Dental Clinicians, including seating and preparing patients for treatment.

For 56 years, the mission of Swope Health mission has been to improve the health and wellness of the community by delivering accessible, quality, comprehensive patient care to all. Founded in 1969 by E. Frank Ellis, Swope Health opened as “Model Cities Health Corporation” in the basement of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church with 20 associates and a $100,000 budget to serve 2,000 patients a year.  Since then, Swope has since expanded its size, scope, and service offerings to include behavioral and dental care, services for the unhoused, mobile services and school-based clinics, and the PACE KC Adult Wellness Center. 

Swope Health serves as a community health asset in the region – transforming lives, strengthening community, and powering our prosperity. Swope Health is committed to maintaining its focus on patient care and experience as well as an integrated, holistic model of health care, ensuring that everyone in the community can be served. The organization’s high-quality services, strong financials, and visionary leadership team position them well to sustain and deepen their impact into the future.

Responsibilities

• Obtains and records vital signs, personal information and medical history.
• Seats and prepares patients for treatments, arranges dental instruments, materials, medications and passes them to dental clinicians as needed.
• Maintains cleanliness of oral operating area by the use of suction devices, water sprays cotton rolls and related equipment.
• Sterilizes dental instruments in autoclaves, dry heat ovens or with chemical disinfectants, stores sterilized instruments and maintains asepsis during storage.
• Exposes and processes dental x-ray films, mounts and labels films as indicated.
• Provides instructions to patients in postoperative care, oral hygiene and the importance of preventive dentistry.
• Be proficient in 4 handed Dentistry to include: • Pre-procedural rinse • Signed informed consent • Radiographs completed and available • Keep a dry field to include monitoring mouth and throat for excess saliva and clean mirror • Maintain light/visibility to area of operation • Patient inclined or reclined • Room set up for a procedure or sterile field maintained.
• Complete Radiographs • Landmarks noted • Complete periapical and obtain tooth apex • Bitewings have open contacts & all posterior teeth identified • Complete panorex diagnostic to include TMJ with no lead apron interference
• Complete EMR documentation • Demonstrate competency in EMR • Enter CDT or ICD codes for all procedures performed (PA bitewing, type of exam, restorative or prosthetic type) • Accurate clinical notes dictated by providers on exams or other dictated information
• Must complete Patient Safety Training curriculum.
• Performs routine maintenance, lubricating and cleaning equipment.
• Answers telephone and performs clerical duties as assigned.
• Schedule appointments and notify patients of upcoming or missed appointments.
• Contributes to the overall flow in the dental clinic via teamwork.
• Completes 8-10 CEU's annually.
• Performs related work as required.

Benefits

• Medical benefits (including a Health Savings Account option), dental and vision
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Company-paid benefits such as life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Short  and Long Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Days Off beginning at 15 days annually
• Nine annual company-paid holidays; One annual paid personal day

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees