Certified Dental Care Assistant

The Certified Dental Care Assistant is responsible for providing chairside assistance to the dental providers and other dental staff in delivering direct dental care and associated services to patients. Dental Care Assistants must demonstrate ability to perform duties regarding sterilization and disinfection process with 100% accuracy. Upon completion of a comprehensive training, Dental Care Assistants will demonstrate proficiency through observation, written, oral assessment.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Administrative Duties

• Routes patients to the appropriate areas within the Health Center for services.
• Checks-in patients for dental visit.
• Updates patients’ demographic in Health Center’s data systems (i.e., NextGen/Provide Enterprise)
• Assists patients in completion of medical and dental intake documentation
• Conducts and documents inventory of equipment and supplies (weekly/monthly basis)
• Documents maintenance repairs of all dental equipment when presented.
• Assists in coordinating oral health services.

Clinical Duties

• Prepares patients for dental visit and/or procedures.
• Assists Dental Clinicians on dental procedures as required.
• Ensures proper sterilization and disinfection of instruments and work areas after each procedure.
• Set-up and prepares instrument trays / materials prior to procedures.
• Takes, develops and mounts dental diagnostic x-rays.
• Records patient treatment plans and information on agency’s data system (i.e., NextGen/Provide Enterprise).
• Records patient’s medical and dental history in agency’s data systems (i.e., NextGen/Provide Enterprise).
• Takes and records patient vital signs at every visit.
• Assists dentist with patient education including pre and post treatment indications.
• Assists dentist in management of medical and dental emergencies.
• Provides patient education on proper oral hygiene care.
• Makes preliminary impressions for study casts and occlusal registrations for mounting study casts.
• Sets-up and stock rooms (i.e., operatories, lab and sterilization room) as required.
• Maintains cleanliness of rooms and equipment following patient examinations and/or procedures.

Education

High school diploma and completion of an accredited Dental Assistant program is required.