Temporary Dental Assistant

Ingham County, MI • Lansing, MI

256d

About The Position

Under the supervision of Dental Director and Community Health Center Manager, the Dental Assistant assists in the examination of patients and the delivery of needed dental treatment in a Dental Health Center setting. Provides chair side assistance, prepares restorative materials and medications, sterilizes dental instruments, takes and develops x-rays and performs other functions to assist the dentist.

Requirements

• Six months of experience as a Dental Assistant.
• Must be certified, or be able to become certified, in monitoring and assisting in the administration of Nitrous anesthesia.
• Must be certified in dental radiographs (x-rays).
• Demonstrates effective communication skills by engaging, interacting and working with individuals from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Greets patients, reviews medical and dental history, and prepares them for dental treatment.
• Evaluates patient behavior and participates in the behavioral management of patients to alleviate their anxiety or fears.
• Arranges dental instruments, assembles dental instruments, materials, and medications on chair side tray in order of use.
• Provides post-operative instructions to patient and/or parent as prescribed by the dentist.
• Sterilizes instruments and keeps other equipment and surfaces disinfected using autoclave, ultrasonic cleaner, or chemical solutions.
• Practices required sterile techniques and ensures sanitary storage of supplies and equipment.
• Sends sterilized strips from autoclaves to companies for testing to ensure that autoclaves are working properly.
• Assists dentist chair side for restorative and surgical procedures by preparing, passing, and receiving appropriate dental instruments.
• Prepares material and impression trays used to construct models of a patient's mouth.
• Keeps oral environment visible during dental procedures by use of high volume evacuation, air, water spray, rubber dams, or other devices.
• Takes and develops dental radiographs, following radiation safety protocols.
• Disposes of waste materials from dental procedures according to OSHA guidelines and infection control.
• Instructs patients and parents on proper oral hygiene and other dental issues.
• Assists in staffing outreach activities related to dental health.
• Cleans, and disinfects as necessary, the general service area in the Health Center and on the Mobile Dental Center.
• Inventories, orders, and stores service materials.
• Prepares bills for services provided, prepares purchase requisitions to order supplies and submits them to Dental Director and CHC Manager for approval.
• Drives Mobile Dental Center to and from schools, schedules maintenance and repair appointments for the MDC.
• Cleans Mobile Dental Center interior weekly.
• Performs Dental Equipment Preventative Maintenance.
• Inspects dental equipment and performs general maintenance on interior dental equipment.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support