PT Dental Assistant - Corrections

Job Summary

Entry-level positions for the dental assistant role which is responsible for performing all the delegable clinical dental assisting duties listed in Florida Statutes 466 and Administrative Rules 64B-5, including but not limited to screening and preparing patients for treatment, assisting hygienist/dentists in treating patients, educating patients, and processing instruments, with adherence to HIPAA, CDC, and OSHA standards. Team members are involved in continual training. This is a part-time position for 1 day per week, for 8 hours.

Qualifications and Requirements

- Education and Training :

High School diploma or GED required.

- Successful completion of a Dental Assistant Certificate (EFDA) Training course from an Accredited Dental Assistant school or training program, including dental radiology, is required.

- Current BLS certificate from nationally recognized organizations that include hands-on skills verification. Online-only or non-recognized certifications are not accepted.

- Must have a valid Florida Drivers license and have a reliable form of transportation.

- Experience :

No dental assistant experience required, yet preference will be given to candidates with experience and or training.

- Experience dealing with underserved populations and cultural competency a plus.

- Behavioral Management : Experience working with patients of all ages preferred or willing to train.

- Cultural Competency : Experience dealing with underserved populations and ability to relate to patients of all religions, ethnical and cultural backgrounds preferred.

- Good Communication Skills : Must have good people skills and communicate following the HFHC Core Values.

- Emotional Intelligence and Adaptability: Must be able to stay positive in stressful situations and deal professionally with unhappy, fearful, and confrontational individuals.

- Adherence to Policy and Procedures : Must have a good working knowledge of dental terminology, dental policies and procedures, oral health issues, or be willing to train. Team members must follow the organizational and department professional code of conduct.

- Time Management Skills : Must be able to organize and prioritize workload.

- Competent in General Office Skills such as computers (Microsoft Office products, EHR), faxes, telephones, and copy machines.

- Teamwork : Must be team-oriented and maintain an effective and positive professional working relationship with all clinical and nonclinical staff, including the detention staff at the correctional site.

- Proactive Attitude : Must be willing to train in additional duties and expanded functions to grow professionally within the organization.

- Flexibility and Attendance : Must be able to work the assigned day and time for dental services.

- Bilingual a plus :

Essential Functions

- Chairside dental assisting tasks as allowed by the Florida Statutes and Administrative Rules as well as:

Identify patients using Double Identifiers – i.e. name and birth date.

- Document patients chief complaints in their patients own words.

- Collects and records medical history, list of medications and allergies, surgeries, hospitalization, and social/dental history records.

- Obtain and record in medical record patient vitals, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and or glucose levels (when applicable), height, and weight as needed.

- Operates dental X-ray equipment and takes diagnostic dental X-rays as prescribed by the dentist.

- Handle dental instruments, including cleaning/oiling, bagging, sterilization/disinfection, and re-circulation following OSHA and CDC standards.

- Assists in educating patients regarding oral hygiene, treatment options and plans, dental consent and provides witness signatures prior to specialty procedures.

- Assist the dentist through 4-handed dentistry, including suction, handling dental materials, and transferring instruments.

- Performs preventative dental treatment including but not limited to clinical crown polishing, tooth flossing, sealant, and fluoride placement as delegated by the supervising dentist.

- Performs operatory disinfection before and after dental procedures.

- Records accurate dental charting of existing restorations, new dental caries, and planned restorations.

- Assists the dentist in completion of dental exam and procedure documentation and closes procedure codes at the end of each visit.

- Completes any necessary paperwork/data entry required into the medical record.

- Assists in patient scheduling.

- Presents treatment plans prepared by the dentist and obtains patient signatures.

- Provide patient education, including oral hygiene and post-operative instructions.

- Proactively participates in patient care to ensure office efficiency and productivity.

- Assists with maintenance of the office inventory, dental equipment and logs as instructed by assigned dentist.

Physical Requirements

- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

- Must be able to stand or sit chairside for extended periods of time.

- Must have manual dexterity to allow for the handling of specialized dental equipment.

- Must have clear vision to allow inspection of instruments for cleanliness, residue or defects.