Job Description: Dental Assistant
We are hiring a dental assistant for our busy dental practice. You will help with preparing patients, sterilizing instruments, setting up rooms, and some dental hygiene tasks. To do well in this role you should have a dental x-ray certification and provide a great level of patient care.
Principal Duties & Responsibilities
- Prepare patients for dental work.
- Help with infection control by sterilizing and disinfecting instruments, setting up instrument trays, preparing materials, and assisting with dental procedures.
- Assist dentists in managing medical and dental emergencies when necessary.
- Assist dental hygienists with procedures when necessary.
- Provide great patient care.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Expose dental x-rays from dental diagnostics and care for dental x-ray equipment.
- Give patients information on dental hygiene, oral health care, and plaque control programs.
- Collect and record medical and dental histories and patient vital signs.
- Provide postoperative instructions as directed by the dentist.
- Care for dental equipment.
- Form preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
- Order dental supplies and maintain dental equipment inventory.
- Fabricate temporary restorations and custom impressions from preliminary impressions.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Certification or associate degree in an accredited dental assisting program.
- Dental x-ray certification.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Experience using computers for a variety of tasks.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Consistently professional appearance and attitude.
- Able to provide great patient care.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here represent those an employee will encounter while performing this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to blood-borne pathogens, airborne fomites, infections, and other contagious diseases; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and vibration. In addition, the employee is frequently exposed to the risk of radiation.
Other Benefits
- Paid vacation
- Paid holidays – regardless of what day it falls on
- Office Bonus System
- 401K
The Top 10 Questions Dental Assistants should ask their Future Employer
I like working in an organized and non-chaotic environment. Tell me about your office protocol for ordering supplies, equipment maintenance, and stocking supplies?
For me to grow, I know I need support. How are you going to support my own growth (mentorship, training portals)?
For me to grow, I know I need support. How are you going to support my teammates that ultimately support me (Doctors, Hygienists, Business Assistants)?
I love my work, but I don't want my work to be my life. Do you make me give up my weekends? Do you offer any flexibility, even for weekdays?
Do you know what Shift Work Disorder is and what are you doing to help prevent that in your organization? An example is a 7am start one day, and a 7pm end the next day.
Anxiety and burnout are prevalent in our profession. How do your systems and processes help fight against this problem?
Teamwork is great. Give me an example of how that directly relates to my day to day duties (Does anyone help me with sterilization, turning over rooms)?
I think that team-based offices are the best. Do you have team bonuses if the performance is there?
Dental technology leads to a better patient experience and quality of care. What are all of the changes you made to your office and what do you plan to implement in the future (intra-oral cameras, dry shields, cavitrons, portable x-ray equipment, multiple digital sensors)?
Reputation is huge, what do your patients have to say about your team and office (Google reviews)?