GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Registered Dental Assistant is selected by and reports to the Site Administrator. Under general supervision, the Registered Dental Assistant complies with Article 4551-E-1 of the laws related to the practice of Dentistry and Dental Assisting in the State of Texas and issued by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners Office is mandatory. In general, the Dental Assistant duties include: translation of medical histories, dental treatment, postoperative instructions (written and oral) hygiene instructions, chair side assisting, the taking and development of radiographs, infection control and sterilization. Maintenance of equipment and inventory, and cross training with the Dental Clerk. Performs other duties as assigned to achieve organizational goals and program objectives.
The Registered Dental Assistant function as a member of a collaborative health care team to create and maintain a Patient Centered Medical Home where emphasis is on excellent communication; support of the patient is provided and tracked in a culturally competent, behaviorally enhanced setting supported by information technology.
Due to the nature of NHHC services, it may become necessary to require employees to work extended hours or other variations of the usual shift to ensure adequate care to patients and maintain services to the community.
CRITICAL JOB ELEMENTS/PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
I. Must be professional in dealing with employees, patients and the public and the public via personal and telephone contacts. Demonstrate positive attitude towards patients with good eye contact, pleasant voice, attentive and responsive to their needs.
II. Medical History/Dental History
1. The Registered Dental Assistant obtains patient record as required.
2. The RDA completes the medical histories and does updates prior to the posting of cases for treatment.
3. The RDA is to obtain and translate the medical/dental history to the provider.
4. Takes vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, and weight) as instructed.
5. Translation of histories to patients and dentist as necessary.
6. Translation of procedures/treatment and postoperative plans to patients and/or parents.
III. X-Rays
1. Takes digital radiographs as dictated by the provider.
2. Maintains the radiograph unit, developer and its solutions as indicated by the manufacturer.
3. Mounts and labels individual radiographs including name, date, and chart number.
4. Complies with safety regulations set by the Texas Department of Health (Bureau of Radiation Control) to minimize patient exposure and utilizes appropriate radiograph techniques and protective lead aprons.
5. The RDA will be certified and abide by the Medical Radiologic Technologist Certification Rules and Regulations, TX Department of Health.
6. Wears radiology safety badges on a daily basis.
IV. Maintenance of Dental and Other Equipment
1. Lubricates/sterilizes handpieces as per manufactures suggestions.
2. Cleans individual vacuum traps on a weekly basis.
3. Checks oil daily and drains water from the compressor on a weekly basis.
4. Changes inline main water filter as required
5. Maintains all dental equipment as per manufacturer's suggestions.
6. Performs quality control check on glucometer daily.
V. Inventory
1. Maintains and reports needed supply items to the designated inventory clerk.
2. Maintains inventory in all work stations.
3. Receives and documents incoming supplies
4. Maintains the central supply in a neat, sanitary and organized fashion and under lock.
5. Reports missing and damaged equipment and inventory to the Dental Director.
6. Maintains the dental supply vendors/contacts and orders needed supplies upon approval of the Dental Director.
7. Verifies for expired drugs and medical and discard appropriately.
VI. Chair side Assisting Duties
1. Assists the Dentist and/or Dental Students in chairside fourhanded dentistry.
2. Performs Dental Assisting duties as permitted in Article 4551E-1 of the laws related to the practice of Dentistry in the State of Texas as issued by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
3. Maintains and carries out daily duties in a professional manner consistent with the ethical codes of conduct of the profession.
4. Hygiene and dress should be appropriate for a health care facility.
VII. Operatory Setups/Clean-up
1. Maintains a clean sterile tray setup including a mirror, explorer and napkin to avoid cross contamination.
2. Variation in sterile tray may be dictated by patient and dentist needs.
3. Cleans up and prepares the operatory, for the treatment of each patient in accordance with sterilization and infection control standards set by the ADA and adapted by NHHC.
VIII. Sterilization
1. Maintains the sterility and infection control of the facility, equipment and instruments.
2. Follows infection control standards set by the ADA and OSHA as described in the protocol manual.
IX. School Screening
1. Teaches and instructs students on oral hygiene.
2. Assists in duties at the Dentist's request.
X. Post-Operative Instructions
1. Translates postoperative instruction to patients and /or parent and dispenses postoperative literature.
2. Escorts patients from operatory following treatment (relays instruction to the parent on the treatment performed and postoperative instructions).
XI. Receptionist Duties
1. Cross-trains with the receptionist and acts in that capacity on a limited basis when required.
2. Documents pertinent follow-up telephone calls in the chart and signs entries.
3. Enters patient data as instructed by the dental clerk.
XII. Continuing Education/CPR and Emergency
1. Attends required CPR and OSHA update and certification courses as required by TSBDE.
2. Knowledgeable of dental emergency protocol and NHHC emergency protocol and on the location of oxygen and emergency equipment.
3. Attends continuing Dental Assisting education courses and maintain current on dental assisting practices, competencies and licensure/registry renewal requirements as instructed by TSBDE.
XIII. Oral Hygiene Instructions
1. Reviews oral hygiene instructions with patients and the parents of young children.
2. Advises all patients over six years of age to use over the counter fluoride rinses unless specified by the Dentist.
3. Performs typical fluoride applications as described by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.
XIV. Adjunct Duties
1. Individual assistants will be responsible for coordinating assistants, sterilization and inventory duties.
2. Completes individual timesheets and supporting documentation in an accurate and timely manner for approval by the Dental Director.
3. Notifies the Dental Director in a timely fashion concerning requesting or unexpected use of time off.
4. Participates in adjunct activities promoted by NHHC including but not limited to health fairs, and school screening and presentations.
XV. Dental Student Rotation
1. Orients dental students on the Dental Assisting protocol.
XVI. Participate in PCMH orientation to become knowledgeable on the model and to
be able to support the PCMH principles, policies, and procedures.
XVII. Performs all duties to ensure that patients have a pleasant and satisfactory
experience in the manner in which their health care is delivered, managed, and
coordinated with both internal and external entities and in which the patient
participates in the decision-making.
XVIII. Must maintain the Standard of Patient Care within scope of practice by following
job duties and responsibilities in accordance with Regulatory Agencies, PCMH,
and according to NHHC needs.
XIX. In conjunction with the care team, Registered Dental Assistantwill assure that patients receive the services needed in order to maximize patient care in efforts to meet PCMH and NCQA requirements.
XX. Maintains patient confidentiality as established by HIPAA mandate.
XXI. Must abide by dress code policy in order to maintain a professional and neat appearance. (For details see Employee Handbook dress code policy).
XXII. Abides by the regulations, protocols and policies as indicated in the NHHC Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct and Safety policies.
XXIII. It is mandatory that the employee participate in Performance Improvement projects aimed at improving patient care, outcomes, and efficiency as it pertains to PCMH Standards.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Education:
- High school graduate or graduate equivalency degree.
- Training by an Accredited Dental Assisting program.
- Must have and maintain current license/registration with State.
Experience:
- Two years of dental experience in dental assisting duties preferred.
- Dental laboratory technician experience may be substituted in certain situations.
- Computer literate and familiarity working with electronic dental record.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Bilingual abilities are helpful Spanish/English
- Knowledge of dental assisting techniques, dental equipment, procedural protocols.
- Adequate manual dexterity and motor coordination skills.
- Willingness to work in a group environment and ability to conform to established policies, procedures and chains of command.
- Must display a mature attitude in interpersonal relations and abide by established codes of professional ethics.
- Must display punctuality, confidentiality and personal hygiene appropriate for a health care facility.
- Adaptability and flexibility as pertains to the job description.
- Ability to establish and carry out specific courses of action.
