Orthodontic Assistant -Huguenot/Powhatan

Virginia Family Dentistry•Midlothian, VA

20d•$18 - $25•Onsite

About The Position

Virginia Family Dentistry is seeking an experienced Orthodontic Assistant for its Huguenot/Powhatan team. The role travels between two offices and performs clinical and administrative tasks, educates patients about treatment and oral hygiene, prepares patients for treatment, takes x-rays and impressions, and changes orthodontic devices such as wires and brackets. The assistant works as part of the larger team and communicates effectively with doctors, employees, and patients. This is a non-exempt, hourly position. Typical hours are 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Friday. Pay is $18–$25 per hour, based on experience.

Requirements

At least 6 months of orthodontic experience or completion of a dental assisting program.
X-ray certification.
BLS certification.
Excellent communication skills.
Time-management skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Attention to detail.
Teamwork skills.
Ability to perform physically demanding work, including prolonged standing, sitting in awkward positions, repetitive hand movements, and bending or twisting.
Good hand-eye coordination and dexterity to handle small dental instruments, take impressions, operate x-ray equipment, and work in patients' mouths.
Ability to stand and walk for long periods and potentially lift and move equipment, assist patients into the operatory chair from a wheelchair, and lift boxes of supplies.
Ability to handle, control, or feel tools and objects; maintain steady arm and hand positions; grasp, move, or assemble small objects; and make precise adjustments to machine controls.
Ability to see nearby details, understand another person's speech, and speak clearly.

Responsibilities

Assist the doctor chairside by passing instruments, aspirating intra-oral fluids, and mixing materials and medicaments during examinations, treatments, and procedures.
Place, change, and remove elastic orthodontic separators, arch wires, brackets, and ligature ties.
Take intra-oral measurements for orthodontic procedures.
Perform temporary cementation and remove temporary crowns and orthodontic bands.
Remove excess cement from supragingival tooth surfaces and check for loose orthodontic brackets and bands.
Adjust clear aligners and retainers and arrange repairs when necessary.
Deliver aligners, attachments, and adjusted retainers and braces using indirect bonding techniques.
Take scans for diagnostic and working models, x-rays, impressions, and patient molds; fabricate Essix retainers.
Prepare trays and set up and clean up for procedures.
Remove, process, and sterilize instruments and tools; maintain a clean and orderly sterilization area and follow infection-control protocols.
Assist with administrative duties when needed.
Review the doctor's schedule, prepare for appointments with required supplies and lab cases, assist with procedures and x-rays, clean rooms between patients, and keep rooms stocked.
Keep the schedule on time and notify the front desk when running behind.
Bring patients to the front desk with completed route slips and treatment plans.
Maintain a lab tracking system and ensure lab work is ready for appointments.
Work with the doctor scheduler on schedules and maintain the unscheduled list by following up with patients about needed treatment.
Track the doctor's outstanding lab cases.
Order and unpack supplies.
Educate patients about their treatment and oral hygiene.