Job Details

Job Title: Dental Assistant

Reports to: Dental Operations Manager

Department: Dental Operations

FLSA Class: Non-Exempt

Updated: February 2025

Summary: The Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting the dentists and dental hygienists in providing dental services to patients of Hunter Health Clinic (HHC). The Dental Assistant provides quality dental care to all HHC patients while maintaining compliance with all federal grants, HRSA, HIPAA, Dental Board, and HHC policies and procedures.

Essential Functions:

• Assists the Dentists and Dental Hygienists in patient care for scheduled appointments, as well as triage emergency patients and walk-ins.
• Educates patients on upcoming procedures and hygiene practices, answers their questions, and gives directions to patients as authorized by the dentist or dental hygienist.
• Assists and reviews patient registration forms to ensure accuracy.
• Prepares patients' treatments as directed by the dentist or dental hygienist while following department protocols.
• Exposes and develops dental radiographs following state regulations and law as well as department directives and protocol.
• Assists with maintaining department equipment, sterile supplies, and patient records while complying with HHC policies and procedures.
• Participates in appropriate health promotion/disease prevention activities both on-site and off-site as required.
• Distributes clinic literature and provides explanations of policies about patient rights and services.
• Assist with dental billing and data compilation as it relates to the dental program.
• Travels when necessary to meet operational needs.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Certified Dental Assistant and/or completion of an accredited course in dental assisting is preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) is required, within 30 days of hire.
• 1 to 3 years of experience as a dental assistant is preferred.
• Bilingual abilities are preferred.

Skills:

• Listens, identifies, and responds quickly and effectively to internal and external needs.
• Communicates effectively with all patients.
• Displays organizational skills, the ability to multi-task, and uses time and resources effectively.
• Displays good judgment and decision-making skills.
• Effectively collaborates and seeks clarification and confirms accuracy as needed.
• Utilizes teamwork to achieve desired results and contributes to projects while developing positive working relationships.
• Pursues goals with commitment and shows initiative.
• Demonstrates accuracy, thoroughness, and reliability; manages time and priorities; develops and follows work procedures.
• Evaluates own performance and accepts constructive feedback to continue learning.
• Ability to maintain appropriate clinical privileges.

Physical and Mental Demands of the Job:

All employees, including those who become disabled, must be able to perform the essential job function listed below, either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation. The functions listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. These essential functions document does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

• Talking: The ability to speak clearly and effectively.
• Average Hearing: The ability to hear average conversations and respond accordingly.
• Repetitive Motion: The ability to sit, stand, walk and use hands to handle, feel and reach.
• Finger Dexterity: The ability to use fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up objects and pinching fingers together.
• Average Visual Abilities: The ability to focus on items clearly, including close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Working Conditions: The ability to work in a well-lit, climate-controlled environment, with a noise level that is occasionally high. There is potential exposure to infectious diseases.
• Physical Strength: The ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Mathematical Ability: The ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's.