Dental Assistant, Penn Dental Medicine's Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program (AEGD)

Job Description Summary

The Dental Assistant for Penn Dental Medicine's Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program (AEGD) will provide direct patient care, as well as clinical and student support.

Job Description

The AEGD Program at Penn Dental Medicine affords residents the opportunity to complete clinical care rotations within the Penn Dental Medicine Care Center for Persons with Disabilities, Woods Services, and the Penn Dental Medicine clinical facilities and community affiliates where they will treat patients with varying social, medical, economic, and psychosocial complexities alongside other dental specialty residents and other health care providers. As a Dental Assistant within this program, the ideal candidate will be expected to transition over to the Woods Services location to provide clinical care alongside program residents.

Experience in supporting dental care delivery including: preparation of treatment rooms, setting up patient instruments and materials, passing instruments and performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice is preferred.

PATIENT EXPERIENCE

• Prepares patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and obtaining medical history and patient vitals, and draping patient.
• Documents dental care services by charting in patient records. Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.
• Provides materials by selecting, mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
• Make appropriate study models on indicated patients.
• Expose and mount digital x-rays in appropriate digital templates.
• Provides diagnostic information by exposing digital radiographic studies; pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
• Maintains patient appearance and ability to masticate by fabricating temporary restorations; cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
• Educate and motivate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions, presents and explains treatment plants to patients, demonstrates effective communication to bridge the gap between a pending treatment plan and a completed treatment plan, provides postoperative instructions and schedules and subsequent visits.

OPERATIONS

• Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Performs sterilization cycles of instruments and monitors sterilizer, including spore testing and recording.
• Helps dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
• Conserves dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results; monitors inventory; maintains proper usage and operations of equipment. While monitoring supply inventory, will facilitate ordering of additional supply inventory when appropriate.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Flexibility in scheduling is required for all positions.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing and supporting as assigned.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE & POSITION EXPECTATIONS

• Technical School, Certification, or training required beyond High School and minimum of 3 years of practical experience in a dental care facility or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Current CPR certification and BLS required.
• Experience in a higher education dental setting a plus.
• Employment clearance through the State of PA to work on/with children: as determined through Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance and FBI Finger Printing Database is required.
• Experience with AxiUm preferred.