Employment

Primary Function

The Dental Assistant II works under the direction and supervision of the Dental Assistant Supervisor. This position is primarily located at Cherokee Indian Hospital Dental Clinic. There may be some travel required in order to provide services in other locations. Under supervision, the incumbent is responsible for a variety of clinical and administrative duties established by the Dental Assistant Supervisor. The primary duties will be to perform all basic dental assistant functions in order to allow the dental team to function as efficiently as possible. This position corresponds to the State of NC Dental Assistant II (www.ncdentalboard.org/dental_assisting.html). Duties will consist of standard chairside dental assisting duties, greeting patients/visitors, patient registration, answering calls, scheduling patient appointments, filing/scanning, mail delivery, message delivery, courier service, information retrieval, sending and receiving faxes, use of copier, and to perform other standard office duties as assigned. Participates in HP/DP projects within the community.

Job Description

Administrative

• Greets patients/visitors, makes necessary notifications, assists as necessary to facilitate contact with appropriate persons, and directs to specified office.
• Responsible for scheduling, re-scheduling, and cancelling patient appointments via phone and in person.
• Make sure insurance information is obtained (copied) and proper authorizations have been documented.
• Update demographic information for appointed patients. Make sure patient’s address and phone numbers are most recent. Check patient’s eligibility regarding the care they can receive.
• Develops and implements consistent office procedures regarding filing/scanning, mail delivery, message delivery, courier service, and information retrieval, sending and receiving faxes, use of copier, and all other standard office duties.
• Proficient in the use of Electronic Dental Record (EDR), Electronic Health Record (EHR) and RPMS to assist with appointment schedules in the Dental Clinic. Performs various clerical tasks in support of daily operations such as filing, typing/scanning, copying, patient registration, making appointment reminder calls, patient check-in, patient check-out, and making follow-up appointments, etc.
• Maintains a neat and orderly work area and office reception area.
• Types standard forms, letters, documents, correspondence, etc. on a daily basis or as deemed necessary.
• Sends and receives all office copies while distributing them to the appropriate staff.
• Performs job duties according to established safety guidelines and CIHA polices.
• Records telephone messages pertaining to dental care, returns phone calls to patients regarding their care, and if needed, refers all urgent communication to the professional staff for immediate action. Initiates calls as requested by staff.
• Requests transportation for patients internally and externally.
• Assists with the billing process when necessary.
• Prepares and maintains packet of forms used by the Dental Department.
• Maintains clerical supplies by checking stock and requisitions replacement as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May be necessary to work when Administrative leave is granted if patient care would be compromised.

Clinical

• Performs routine chairside assisting in all areas (General, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Oral Surgery and Endodontics) and accurately records diagnostic information and treatment provided for each patient.
• Responsible for day to day maintenance of all clinic areas including minor equipment adjustments and cleanliness of clinic areas.
• Keeps instruments properly maintained and sterilized.
• Obtains intra oral and extra oral digital dental radiographs as prescribed by a dentist while following standard policies and procedures.
• Takes impressions for study models (not to be used for appliance fabrication), pours and trims models, fabricates custom trays and bite rims.
• Applies sealants to teeth that do not require mechanical alteration prior to the application of such sealants, provided a dentist has examined the tooth and prescribed the sealant.
• Applies matrix bands and wedges.
• Cements temporary restorations using temporary cement.
• Applies rubber dams, removes sutures, applies desensitizing agents, applies etching materials and bonding agents, and works with Isodry System and Nitrous Oxide under dentist supervision.
• Flush, dry and temporarily close root canals.
• Other duties allowed under State of North Carolina Dental Practices for Dental Assistant II. (www.ncdentalboard.org/dental_assisting.html)
• The Incumbent may be called upon to work in a variety of environments, including but not limited to schools and daycare centers located on an around the Qualla Boundary, long-term care facilities located on and around the Qualla Boundary and off-site community hospital (Harris Regional) for the performance of assisting in operating room dentistry.

Job Knowledge

• A good working knowledge of dental terminology in order to accurately record treatment and examination information in patient chart, describe diseases and medical and surgical procedures, as well as standard abbreviations used by the dental staff.
• Ability to sterilize dental instruments and keep clinic clean and presentable to patients. Understands and follows Infection Control guidelines.
• Skill and dexterity in performing all intra oral and extra oral techniques.
• Knowledge of all routine dental instruments and procedures in order to prepare for and assist in all normal clinical procedures.
• A practical knowledge of the medical facility’s organization and services, the basic rules and regulations governing visitors and patient treatment, HIPAA, and practical knowledge of standard procedures and medical records.
• Knowledge of typing and basic computer skills. Familiarity with computerized based appointment scheduling.
• Knowledge of requisitioning supplies and maintaining clerical supply levels.
• Must adhere to the procedures, policies, and operational guidelines of CIHA.
• Must know specified software programs and applications, especially Outlook, Word, Publisher, Power Point, and Excel.
• Requires the ability to organize work, deal effectively with the public and staff and communicate efficiently, both verbally and in writing.
• Must be able to work as a team member of the dental group and independently.

Education/Experience

• A high school diploma or GED is required. A minimum of two years’ experience working in a clerical, administrative, or health related field is required.
• Previous experience in a dental setting is preferred.
• Previous experience working with Dentrix Program is preferred.
• Must possess a valid North Carolina driver’s license.

The incumbent must satisfy one of the following conditions:

Successful completion of:

• An ADA accredited dental assisting program and current certification in BLS;
• Or one (1) academic year or longer in an ADA accredited dental hygiene program and current certification in BLS; or

Successful completion of:

• Full-time employment and experience as a chairside assistant for two years (3,000 hours) of the preceding five, during which the assistant may be trained in any delivery setting and allowed to perform the functions of a dental assistant II under the direct control and supervision of a licensed dentist;
• A 3-hour course in sterilization and infection control;
• A 3-hour course in dental office emergencies;
• Evidence of satisfactory performance on an equivalency examination, recognized by the Board of Dental Examiners, based on seven hours of instruction on the production and use of dental x-rays and educational program of not less than seven (7) hours in clinical dental radiology; and
• Current certification in BLS; or

  Successful completion of:

• The national certification examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, and current certification in BLS.