Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

This position is located in the Dental Service Section of the VA NJHCS at East Orange, Lyons, and Toms River, NJ and is under the direct supervision of the Staff Dentist during patient treatment. It primarily involves chairside assistance duties in all phases of restorative dentistry, as well as in the special areas of Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Endodontics, Periodontics and Gerodontics.

Chairside assisting:

• Performs a wide range of intra-oral dental procedures associated with various phases of restorative, prosthetic, periodontal, endodontic, oral surgery, implant placement and restoration procedures and provides chairside assistance, fully anticipating the dentist's needs for all instruments, materials, and services using four-handed techniques.
• Sets up operatory and/or surgery suite for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover.
• Passes instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently.
• Performs a variety of techniques and skilled, detailed workmanship to complete placement of temporary crowns and bridges. In completing intricate procedures, the assistant must carefully consider detailed aspects of dental anatomy. The product of these procedures must be functionally compatible with the dental anatomy of each patient.
• Triages dental emergencies requiring immediate evaluation as well as immediate intervention and arrangement for veterans to be seen by appropriate clinical staff.

Dental Imaging:

• Operates dental X-ray equipment for intra- and extra- oral radiographs.
• Images are of diagnostic quality and accurately oriented and exposed.
• Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized.

Customer service:

• Shows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public.
• Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery.

Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization:

• Demonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning operatories.
• Disinfects oral appliances to prevent cross contamination.
• Debrides and decontaminates instruments, materials and equipment.
• Prepares instruments in a manner that does not delay clinical care.
• Properly prepares instruments for transfer to SPS for sterilization.

Clerical Functions:

• Assists patients in scheduling appointments, makes appointments, and handles telephone calls.
• Assists in filling gaps in the doctor's schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments.
• Initiates computerized progress notes.

Information Management:

• Maintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information.
• Follows computer security regulations.

Patient Safety:

• Modify position if patient cannot self-transfer; reposition patient as needed.
• Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients.
• Participates in patient identification and time out per Joint Commission requirements.
• Instructs patients in preventive dental care measures, general nutrition as related to dental health, the common causes of tooth decay, and the care of prosthodontic appliances, provides post-operative and other appropriate patient education.
• Monitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress.

Employee Education:

• Complies with Employee Education requirements.
• Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions.

Dental Laboratory Functions:

• Pours impressions, prepares, and trims study models.
• Makes final denture impression trays and prepares bite rims.

Direct Patient Care:

• Obtains patient vital signs (BP, pulse, pulse oximeter, temporal temperature) as needed.
• Makes impressions for diagnostic casts and preliminary impressions for prosthetic fabrication.

Other duties as assigned.