Dental Assistant

Zufall Health Center•Somerville, NJ

6d•$21 - $28

About The Position

The Dental Assistant reports to the site manager and Assistant Site Manager (if applicable) with clinical oversight from SVP of Dental Services, SVP of Nursing, and Chief Medical Officer. The Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting the dentist(s) and dental hygienist(s) in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients of the Zufall Health Center (ZHC). The Dental Assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation, and inventory control of all instruments and supplies.

Requirements

Requires a comprehensive knowledge of dental assisting techniques and procedures for all phases of general dentistry
Knowledge of modern dental materials, their storage, handling, and applications is required.
Completion of accredited course in dental assisting preferred
Ability to attend to multiple tasks at the same time and prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols
The Dental Assistant must be able to creatively work with other health care professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal results for the center’s patient
Effective oral and written communication skills in English are required
Effective oral communication skills in Spanish required
The Dental Assistant must be cognizant of the expectations and concerns of the center’s dental patients and be able to respond in an empathetic and professional manner
The ability to work with people from diverse social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds is necessary
Working under stressful conditions as well as irregular hours may be required
Frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, radiation, and other conditions common to a clinical environment may routinely be encountered
Prolonged sitting or standing may be required
Those physical movements and the degree of mobility, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination normally associated with dental assisting in the general practice of dentistry will be performed on a repetitive basis
The ability to distinguish between letters and symbols and the ability to utilize telephones, computer terminals and copiers are required
Learn and apply the trauma informed care principles with the scope of the position
High school diploma or GED certificate
Certified Dental Assistant preferred
Registered Dental Assistant preferred
Current CPR (BLS) required
Valid Radiology license in NJ
Fluent in both English and Spanish required
Knowledge of Microsoft Office, typing, and use of electronic medical records are required

Responsibilities

Serves as dentist’s or dental hygienist’s chair-side assistant
Prepares operatory for patient treatment as per ZHC protocols and the dentist’s or dental hygienist’s directions
Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering their questions, and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist or dental hygienist
Exposes and develops dental radiographs in accordance with the state regulations and law as well as ZHC directive and protocol
Performs independent procedures as delegated and directed by the dentist in accordance with the state regulation and law and ZHC directive and protocol
Maintains dental Department equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions for use and Dental Department policy and protocol
Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental Department directives and protocols as well as ZHC policies and procedures relative to infection control, blood borne pathogens, exposure control, and safety issues
Maintains all dental department’s materials, equipment, and ensures the sterility of all clinical material and equipment in accordance with the products standards, ZHC infection control policies, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and The Joint Commission (JC) standards
Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes
Maintains a list of all Dental Department patients, monitors patient flow, and assists the SVPof Dental Services, dentist(s) and dental hygienist(s) in ensuring that all patient records and documents are properly and accurately completed and filed
Receives and places work-related telephone calls consistent with professional matters, clinic business and ZHC patient care needs
Assist with various clinical and administrative functions of the center as appropriate.
Ensures the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental Department directive, ZHC policy as well as state and federal regulation(s)
Performs all functions in full compliance with ZHC and the Dental Department Blood Borne Pathogens Exposure Control plan including but not limited to the use of Personal Protective Equipment and Universal Precautions
Participates in appropriate health promotion / disease prevention activities, both on-site and off-site as required
Travels between sites when required to meet ZHC needs
As directed by a supervisor, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives
Responsible for maintaining personal compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and ZHC rules.
Follows all regulations, protocols and procedures including but not limited to participating in the provision of clinical dental care, as well as workplace safety, public health, and patient confidentiality in keeping with HIPAA rules and regulations
Conducts routine testing of dental units
Available to provide proper coverage of auxiliary staff, when staff calls out sick, providing lunch and late coverage
Demonstrates and teaches new staff, students, interns, and volunteers the use of equipment and proper dental protocol as it relates to patient care
Works in patient intake areas as needed
Performs other duties as assigned