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.

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 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.
• 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.