Dental Assistant

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA
•Onsite

About The Position

Since 1897, the Ostrow School of Dentistry has shaped talented students into outstanding dentists and dental hygienists. Our challenging clinical education and our expert faculty members provide future oral health professionals with the skills they need in order to become the best. USC's Ostrow School of Dentistry is seeking a Registered Dental Assistant to serve as a floater with our Advanced Specialty Office and the Undergrad Implant Program. Some of the duties will include front and back office responsibilities including data entry, admitting 20-30 patients a day, scheduling appointments, confirming appointments, ensuring payments are collected, verifying insurance eligibility, answering all incoming calls, and providing chair-side assisting.

Requirements

  • Minimum Education: High school or equivalent
  • Specialized/technical training
  • Minimum Certifications: Dental Assisting diploma certificate
  • Coronal polishing certificate
  • Radiation Safety certificate
  • BLS/CPR
  • Completed board-approved course in the Dental Practice Act
  • Completed board-approved 8-hour course in Infection Control
  • Minimum Experience: <1 year 0 - 6 months
  • Minimum Skills: Demonstrable working knowledge of HIPAA compliance, and dental terminology.
  • Demonstrated excellent interpersonal patient service skills and the ability to multitask.
  • Strong working knowledge of proper sterilization and instrument management techniques.
  • Demonstrated experience in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

  • Bilingual English/ Spanish speaker preferred.
  • Education: Associate's Degree
  • Experience: 6-12 months
  • Field of Expertise: Working knowledge of dental management systems, preferably axiUm.
  • Bilingual skills in (Spanish and English) verbal and written communications skills.
  • Demonstrated experience and skills in a variety of dental disciplines.
  • Preferred Experience: 1 year
  • Preferred Skills: Three months to one year of chair-side experience in a dental environment or private practice in at least one recognized dental discipline (e.g., general/prosthodontics, endodontics, orthodontics).

Responsibilities

  • Provides both administrative and comprehensive chair-side assisting services in a wide variety of dental general and specialty areas for patients during treatment procedures for attending dentist, doctoral dental students, and post-doctoral students in the clinical unit(s) and/or affiliated practices.
  • Sets up the treatment/clinical area for patients.
  • Organizes and prepares trays, sets up for dental procedures and maintains adequate supply levels in each operatory.
  • Preps patient and assists with dental procedures.
  • Prepares and mixes materials.
  • Obtains vital signs and monitors patients for complications.
  • Cleans up following procedure, disposes of all waste in an appropriate fashion, disinfects area after each patient and sets up for next patient in accordance with established procedures.
  • Exposes and processes digital radiography or traditional x-rays.
  • Practices radiation safety at all times when using the dental radiographs operators.
  • Obtains dental history and records from patient and ensures health history is updated and scanned in electronic health record system or recorded in paper chart.
  • Sets up clinical area and keeps disposable materials and medications in adequate supply for daily operations.
  • Performs regular audits to ensure that no expired materials exist in the patient care areas.
  • Maintains a clean and orderly clinic at all times.
  • Sterilizes and disinfects instruments and equipment in accordance with established procedures.
  • Maintains an inventory of dental instruments, equipment, and supplies in the dental operatory.
  • Organizes supplies and equipment to minimize loss and maximize utilization.
  • Reports equipment malfunctions to direct supervisor and follows up with repair technicians as needed.
  • Maintains impressions, study models, and various other dental appliances.
  • Assists with patient registration, appointment scheduling, billing, filing, scanning, and other related administrative support duties as required.
  • Provides patient education and treatment planning information as directed by attending faculty providers, or by students.
  • Assesses emergency situations and provides necessary and proper response when appropriate in accordance with emergency protocols.
  • Maintains working knowledge of First Aid and CPR (including Automated External Defibrillator use).
  • Observes students to ensure they are adhering to strict principles of the standard of care, cleanliness and infection control.
  • Reports any areas of non-compliance to the supervisor and/or faculty.
  • Leads other dental assistants in the absence of the supervisor as needed.
  • Schedules and oversees work.
  • Assists with clinical problem resolution as needed.
  • Maintains attendance records and other related administrative documentation, as necessary.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.
  • The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Benefits

  • The Trojan Family Rewards: We pride ourselves in creating the BEST USC EXPERIENCE, and that begins with our employees! We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. For more information, please visit http://benefits.usc.edu
  • This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being.
  • As members of the Trojan family, employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans!
  • As an equal opportunity employer, USC values and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
  • The work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and constructive collaboration amongst all its members.
  • USC has great minds that transform the world with their talents and research.
  • We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.
  • Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected] .
  • Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
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