SHIFT: 1ST SHIFT, M-F
WAGE: $16.01
Eligible Employer for Public Student Loan Forgiveness as a non-profit
Position Summary:
Under the supervision of Chief Dental Officer and in accordance with rules defined by the State of Michigan, obtain patient from waiting room and perform chairside assisting, dental charting, dental laboratory procedures, equipment sterilization, maintenance, cleaning, and exposing radiographs for dental clinic. All Nimkee staff must adhere to mandated reporting laws.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Prepare the dental operatory for each patient; preset and prepare all instruments, equipment, and other items as needed for each procedure; place suction tips, radiograph rings/sensors, clean plastics and other protective equipment.
- Obtain and record patient information in Dentrix (Electronic Dental Record), including medical changes coding procedures and clinical notes; enter data (including blood pressure, pulse and exam date) into EHR (Electronic Health Record), initiating necessary referral paperwork and/or prior authorization forms and logging into Lab Tracker as needed.
- Greet and seat patients; prepare for patient treatment by evaluating patient`s needs, triaging, and evaluating treatment plan, placing bib and safety glasses, taking blood pressure, reviewing health history and exposing needed radiographs. Escort patient to front desk upon dismissal.
- Expose and label digital intraoral radiographs, including bitewing, periapical, occlusal and panoramic views.
- Make impressions for study models; place dental sealants, temporary fillings/crowns and/or other procedures as allowed by licensure.
- Perform lab work procedures including pouring and trimming models, making stints, custom trays, mouth guards, bite rims and/or other in-house lab work as needed.
- Clean, disinfect and stock dental operatories (including changing traps, cleaning suction lines, etc.), dental lab, sterile and non-sterile rooms, flush eye wash station; maintains equipment in those rooms, including the changing of dental unit O-rings and washers in operatory suctions, as needed.
- Clean and sterilize instruments utilizing ultrasonic and autoclave; stock clean instruments.
- Perform routine chairside dental assisting functions utilizing aseptic techniques, anticipating needs of dentist and patient, and helping to ease patient anxiety.
- Provide oral hygiene instruction and instruction on the use and care of dental appliances, dental disease prevention information and answer patient questions.
- Maintain and organize supplies, including ordering and restocking of dental supplies in stock room and carts, checking expiration dates (including Medical First Aid Box); contacting water plant when water jugs are low for replenishment.
- Adhere to patient confidentiality and comply with clinic policies and federal regulations under the Privacy rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Provide excellent customer service for all internal and external customers of the operations at all times. Provide solutions for customer concerns and continually focus on customer service as our top priority.
- Must maintain strict confidentiality and present a positive, professional demeanor and image at all times.
- The above duties and responsibilities are not an all-inclusive list but rather a general representation of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position. The duties and responsibilities will be subject to change based on organizational needs and/or deemed necessary by the supervisor.
Contacts/Purpose of Contacts:
- Contact with patients for the purpose of providing direct care dental services.
- Contact with Nimkee Clinic staff and Tribal Operations staff.
- Contacts may also include dental supply vendors, staff from outside dental labs, and specialists to which patients may be referred.
Minimum Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Graduate of a dental assisting program or two years of dental assisting experience.
- Must be able to pass background check to meet the employment eligibility requirements as they pertain to the position.
License, Certification, or Special Requirements:
- Certification to expose dental radiographs.
- Ability to obtain HIPPA Certification, Blood Borne Pathogens Certification, BLS Certification and Safety Training within thirty days of hire.
- Native American preference shall apply to all positions.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Knowledge of proper technique procedures for caring of all dental equipment and instruments as well as proper sterilization and storage.
- Knowledge of dental terminology for proper recording of dental treatment in Dentrix.
- Knowledge of all instruments used in routine dental procedures for restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgical, endodontic and periodontal treatment.
- Knowledge of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Skill in operating business computers and office machines, including in a Windows environment, specifically Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
- Skill in maintaining inventory of dental supplies.
- Ability to receive, route and schedule patients.
- Ability to efficiently perform chair side techniques in all phase of dentistry.
- Ability to explain to patient, post-operative instructions, preventive techniques and care instructions.
Physical Demands:
- Frequent use of hands, wrists, fingers associated with providing dental care and with computer equipment.
- Required to stand, sit and walk for extended periods of time.
- Occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
- Normal visual acuity, ability to talk and hear.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
Work Environment:
- Dental office.
- Exposure to bodily fluids such as blood and saliva and/or the potential for needle sticks and/or dental instrument skin puncture.
- Latex may be used in the dental office which can produce allergic reactions.
- Potential contact with chemicals and/or cleaning reagents utilized within the clinic.
- Exposure to unpleasant odors, radiation, blood-borne pathogens, hazardous material and infectious disease.
- Situations occur where surgical masks, safety goggles, gloves and protective face shields are needed.
- Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required.
