Dental Assistant, Preventive and Restorative Sciences - Penn Dental Medicine
Job Description Summary
The Dental Assistant within Penn Dental Medicine's (PDM) Preventive and Restorative department will serve in the Division of Restorative Dentistry. This position will be expected to provide direct patient care as well as clinical, student, and resident support between two locations: onsite at PDM (located at 240 S. 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104) and at Public Health Management Corporation's (PHMC) Cedar campus (located at 501 S. 54th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143).
Job Description
Experience in supporting dental care delivery including: preparation of treatment rooms, setting up patient instruments and materials, passing instruments, breaking down treatment rooms, four handed dentistry, and performing procedures in compliance with the dental practice is required. This role will also include front desk duties. Dental Assistant will report to the Director of Preclinical Operations, working alongside the Primary Care Leader/Dental Director of Community Dental Care Centers and PDM's Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Program Director.
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 mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
- Expose and mount digital x-rays in appropriate digital templates. Take panoramic x-rays when necessary.
- Provides diagnostic information by exposing digital radiographic studies; pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts.
- Cleaning and polishing removable appliances.
- Educate and motivate patients by giving oral hygiene and plaque control instructions, presents and explains treatment plans to patients, demonstrates effective communication to bridge the gap between a pending treatment plan and a completed treatment plan, provides postoperative instructions and schedules subsequent visits.
OPERATIONS
- Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
- Protects patient 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. This position will require onsite dental assisting at two locations; (PDM 240 S 40th St & Cedar 501 S. 54th Street).
- 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.
- To legally operate dental x-ray equipment and perform dental radiographic procedures in Pennsylvania under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist, a dental assistant must have passed the national DANB Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam.
- 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 Fingerprinting Database is required.
- Experience with AxiUm and Epic preferred, experience with other electronic health records required.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Dental Medicine
Pay Range
$16.83 - $22.12 Hourly Rate
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