Dental Assistant

Riverland Community Health•Saint Paul, MN

52d•$20 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

Riverland Community Health (RCH), a Federally-Qualified Health Center in St. Paul, provides integrated community-based medical, mental health, dental, social work, and other services. The Dental Assistant supports the dentist, and sometimes the dental hygienist, in delivering primary dental care to patients. The role is open to licensed and unlicensed dental assistants and works under the direct supervision of the Dental Director and Dental Manager. The assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation, and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies, as well as related clinic duties. The position combines clinical patient support with clinic operations and administrative work. Clinical tasks include preparing for and assisting with procedures, collecting patient information, taking diagnostic x-rays, providing oral hygiene guidance, and performing specified preventive and dental laboratory tasks. The assistant helps ensure positive patient experiences, accurate records and billing information, and compliance with clinic protocols, regulatory and accreditation standards, HIPAA, and organizational policies. Work takes place in a clinic office environment, with contact with staff, patients, and outside agencies. There may be exposure to communicable diseases and medical preparations common to a clinic. The role may require standing or sitting for extended periods, sometimes in a compromised position to accommodate patients, and lifting up to 15 pounds. Salary is $20–$38 per hour depending on experience. Licensed Dental Assistants are eligible for a $2,500 signing bonus, paid in two increments after successfully completing six months and one year of employment. Job offers made during flu season are conditioned on receiving the annual flu vaccination before the start date.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
Certificate of graduation from an accredited dental assisting school.
Current active registration in dental assisting in the state of Minnesota.
Current CPR certification for providers.
Dental Assistant, licensed or unlicensed, with at least one year of experience.
Knowledge of infection-control protocols.
Knowledge of digital x-ray exposure techniques.
Skill in customer service, workload organization and prioritization, meeting deadlines, and written and verbal communication.
Ability to interact effectively and professionally with people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds.
Ability to work effectively with managers, coworkers, members of the public, and professional groups.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with internal and external customers, verbally and in writing, and consistently demonstrate a positive, proactive customer-service attitude.
Ability to work as a team member and independently, exercise sound judgment and initiative, shift priorities flexibly, maintain confidentiality, establish effective working relationships, assist providers, and work toward goals and objectives.
Ability to perform the job in accordance with RCH’s Standards of Business Conduct, including compliance, ethics and integrity, confidentiality, asset protection, and avoidance of conflicts of interest and inappropriate business relationships.
Ability to assist while standing or sitting for a duration of time when needed, sometimes in a compromised position to accommodate patients, and lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Nice To Haves

Previous work experience is desirable.
Clinical fluency in Spanish preferred.
Expanded functions preferred.
Desire to work within a dental public health center.
X-ray certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare, maintain, clean, and sterilize dental instruments and equipment; set up and take down rooms and trays; and prepare materials according to clinic procedures and OSHA infection-control and safety protocols.
Handle and dispose of infectious and hazardous waste according to clinic protocols.
Provide backup and relief for front desk functions, answer and screen dental clinic phone calls, confirm appointments as needed, and perform office duties as requested.
Perform daily clinic start-up and close-down procedures.
Inventory supplies, order replacements, and perform inventory for audits.
Attend staff meetings and contribute to planning and problem-solving related to clinic processes and workflow.
Comply with HIPAA requirements and other clinic policies and protocols.
Verify patient identity; collect and record dental and medical histories and blood pressure before examinations.
Help patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.
Take diagnostic x-rays and assist the dentist chair-side by organizing and preparing instruments and assisting during procedures.
Advise patients and family members on general oral hygiene, dental care, and post-treatment care as appropriate.
Complete post-visit duties and maintain patient records and related administrative documentation.
Chart oral examination results and findings as instructed by the provider.
Use required tools, systems, technology, and equipment to collect patient data, manage records, and support collections.
Perform oral hygiene instruction, child prophylaxis, fluoride treatments, dental sealant placement, and nitrous oxide analgesia monitoring.
Take alginate impressions, pour and trim models, prepare cases for outside laboratories, and organize and track returned lab cases.
Ensure patient services information is collected and submitted accurately and promptly to support billing and collection outcomes.
Maintain favorable relationships with patients and clinic staff, and represent the organization professionally and in accordance with its mission and values.
Perform other duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the Dental Director or Dental Manager.

Benefits

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Health savings account (HSA)
Flexible spending account (FSA)
Basic life insurance
Voluntary additional life insurance
Spousal and child insurance
Long-term disability insurance
403(b) retirement plan
$2,500 signing bonus for Licensed Dental Assistants, paid in two increments after successfully completing six months and one year of employment