Dental Assistant

Hampton Roads Community Health Center•Portsmouth, VA

43d•$19 - $26

About The Position

The Hampton Roads Community Health Center is seeking Dental Assistants to support the clinical needs of its patients and providers. The role supports efficient patient flow, assists with dental procedures and preventive care, maintains patient records and infection-control practices, and helps prepare and maintain examination rooms and dental equipment. The Dental Assistant also supports patient scheduling and the center’s School Dental Program and Mobile Dental Unit.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited dental assistant program and at least two years of related dental assistant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Current Radiation Certification.
Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Subject to credentialing.
Ability to assist a dentist using four-handed dental assisting techniques.
Knowledge of HIPAA requirements for protecting patient privacy and safeguarding patient information.
Considerable knowledge of customer-service principles and processes, including meeting service-quality standards.
Knowledge of general office equipment and personal computers, including word-processing, spreadsheet, and related software.
Comprehensive knowledge of office systems, practices, procedures, and administration.
Ability to use a personal computer and related software to complete financial tasks with reasonable speed and accuracy.
Ability to plan and organize daily work, estimate completion times, set a personal schedule, and prioritize activities.
Ability to develop and maintain cooperative, professional relationships with employees, management, and representatives of other departments and organizations.
Ability to communicate ideas and proposals effectively verbally and in writing, including preparing detailed logs with numerical information.
Ability to research and exercise sound judgment in setting priorities, resolving complex matters, and weighing the relative costs and benefits of potential actions.

Responsibilities

Maintain efficient clinical-floor operations by assessing and preparing patients for procedures in a timely manner, maintaining patient flow, and anticipating the provider’s needs.
Perform four-handed dental assisting and preventive procedures, including dental prophylaxis, fluoride treatment, dental X-rays, dental education, screening, and dental sealants, as directed by the Virginia Board of Dentistry or the provider.
Perform patient record keeping as directed.
Prepare examination rooms by sterilizing instruments and ensuring necessary equipment is ready for the dentist.
Follow infection-control procedures and maintain laboratory, extraction, and infection-control logs according to OSHA guidelines.
Schedule patients for the Healthy Smiles Dental Center and School Dental Program.
Demonstrate Mobile Dental Unit start-up and breakdown procedures, secure items for transport, and perform general dental-equipment maintenance.
Assist the Mobile Unit Coordinator with charts and maintain the mobile unit’s general cleanliness.
Monitor inventory and stock patient examination rooms.
Perform other duties as assigned.