Dental Assistant

Milledge Dental Partners

Dental Assistant

Knoxville, TN
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Benefits:

    Bonus based on performance

    Competitive salary

    Dental insurance

    Free uniforms

    Health insurance

    Opportunity for advancement

    Paid time off

    Training & development

    Vision insurance

    If you would like to become an EFDA, we can help!

    We provide training if needed to polish your skills and provide upward movement of compensation and status. We look forward to speaking with you!

    Chairside Dental Assistant

    The Chairside Dental Assistant is responsible for preparing the operatory for the scheduled dental procedure, welcoming the patient for treatment, and ensuring their comfort. The role requires four-handed dentistry skills, setting up, and breaking down the operatory, sterilization tasks, writing lab slips, providing oral hygiene or post-operative care instructions, and maintaining accurate patient records.

    Role-Specific Responsibilities:

    Be polite and respectful when calling patient from waiting room and be aware of any limitations that the patient presents with such as:

    Handicapped/ wheel chair / walker assistance may be needed and hold the door open for them.

    Make space for adjunctive tools that are needed for navigating the office.

    Be aware of hearing difficulties and inform dentist of such limitations.

    Be aware of speech or communication difficulties such as language barriers that need to be addressed and inform dentist of limitations.

    Examining patients' history, chart, and treatment plan.

    Update patient medical history and take vital signs and review medications being taken.

    Put x-rays of treatment area on computer screen

    Explain to patient area to be treated and treatment planned for the day and answer any questions.

    Make patient feel comfortable while prepping for dental procedures.

    Have compassion for patient who has dental anxiety and inform them as much as needed in regard to the standard operating procedures in treatment.

    Communicating with patients to prepare for future appointments and align treatment expectations.

    Chart current existing and required restorative treatment.

    Exposing good quality and readable diagnostic dental X-rays and digital imaging.

    Be able to identify poor quality imaging and retake any new radiographs to achieve high quality diagnostic images.

    Good manual dexterity for four-handed dental assisting with the dentist and being able to efficiently pass instruments to the dentist and knowing the next instrument needed in procedure and ready to pass when doctor is ready.

    Have full comprehension and knowledge of all dental procedures and tasks associated with each procedure and equipment and necessary products needed for each procedure.

    Always be mentally and physically ready for the next anticipated step by the dentist.

    Be aware of patient comfort level and recognizing when patient is in distress and inform dentist immediately.

    Remain focused throughout the entire treatment procedure to maintain quality and efficient response time with the doctor.

    Assist with dental hygiene procedures when necessary

    Care for dental equipment in treatment room and in sterilization

    Be aware when an instrument is in need of repairs and inform Office Manager in a timely fashion.

    Good organization skills to be able to work efficiently with knowledge of where supplies are kept within the workspace.

    Form preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal impressions for mounting study casts.

    Form temporary dental restorations and custom impressions from preliminary impressions.

    Sterilize instruments and follow OSHA regulations

    Ability to always maintain a clean and organized workspace. Follow office protocols for cleaning and maintaining a safe operatory for yourself, the patient and other colleagues that use the same workspace as you. Sweep any debris or powders off the floor after each procedure so that accidents do not occur. Mop all areas where water or other liquids have been spilled during a procedure prior to the next patient arrival in the operatory.

    Understand current OSHA requirements during the disinfection and sterilization process.

    Always maintain HIPPA compliance

    Role-Specific Success Factors:

    Willing to learn new things to provide better patient care by taking additional courses outside of the operatory and office. Improving knowledge and skill may require you to learn beyond the perimeters of the office by taking courses in other locations to achieve better techniques and skills.

    Have the cognition to know when improvement on skills is needed and ask for help from other more skilled employees can also be beneficial.

    Possess the ability to obtain and receive constructive criticism to improve on skills and techniques.

    Make constructive suggestions to improve the overall status of office protocols that may need improved upon or updated.

    Remain updated and current on ever changing dental products and procedures.

    The ability to work with a team that has multiple personalities and responsibilities within the operation of daily work schedule. Being able to work in this type of environment without undermining and disrupting other team members' roles, responsibilities, and skills.

    Maintain a positive and productive attitude and be grateful to those around you.

    Well organized

    High-Quality treatment planning and execution skills.

    High-Quality hand skills.

    Excellent communication skills.

    Attention to detail.

    Helpful and polite.

    Role-Specific Requirements:

    CDA or RDA from an accredited dental assisting program and five years of on-the-job training

    CPR certification according to the state Board of Dentistry requirements

    Current CE requirements according to the state Board of Dentistry

    Dental X-ray certification

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Experience using computers for a variety of tasks.

    Well-organized and reliable

    Dedicated to delivering excellent customer service.

    Good computer skills on a variety of software

    Consistently professional in appearance and attitude

    Role-Specific Metrics:

    Patient Appointment Preparation and Communications

    Net Production per Day

    Treatment Plan Accuracy and Execution

    Patient Satisfaction

    Milledge Dental Partners is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Milledge Dental Partners is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

    For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation during the interview process, please advise your company contact.