Certified Dental Assistant

Description

Position : Certified Dental Assistant

Department : Dental Clinic / Harbor Care Health & Wellness Center

Reports to : Director - Dental Clinic

Pay Status : Full-Time, Salary-Exempt

Schedule : Monday through Friday; 8 : 00am - 5 : 00pm

Will be required to work occasional early mornings, evenings and weekends.

Location : Nashua- 45 High Street

The Job :

Do you want to make sustainable change in our community? Harbor Care is seeking a talented and committed Dental Assistant / Certified Dental Assistant to help further our mission.

About Harbor Care :

Harbor Care, formerly known as Harbor Homes and the Partnership for Successful Living affiliates, is an innovative health and human services non-profit organization that provides housing, healthcare, home health, behavioral health, addiction treatment, and more in collaboration with many community partners.

Harbor Care is the new shared name of Harbor Homes, Keystone Hall, Healthy at Home, the Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center, and the Southern NH HIV / AIDS Task Force.

Harbor Care has 325 employees, serves 5,000 patients / clients and has an annual budget of approximately 40 million dollars.

We offer many programs specifically focused on our Military Veteran and homeless populations. Harbor Care integrates stable housing with vital supports such as : medical, dental, and mental health care, substance misuse treatment, employment services, and other wraparound supports proven to end homelessness, help change and save lives.

Our Mission :

Our mission is to provide vital services, including housing and healthcare to all in our communities needing assistance.

Our Vision :

Our vision is one where everyone gets to live safe, stable, and healthy lives, filled with purpose, respect, and dignity.

Benefits :

At Harbor Care, we consider our employees to be our greatest assets. We show this appreciation with our comprehensive benefit packages which include : Medical and Dental with a generous Employer Paid Portion.

We also offer Voluntary Benefits such as Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with a competitive company paid match, and more.

To promote a healthy lifestyle and living a well-balanced life, our employees are further benefited with a considerate time off policy and holiday schedule.

In addition, employees can participate in our Employee Assistance Program to help support them and their families to handle life's challenges.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) :

As Harbor Care transitions under the FQHC umbrella, our Clinicians will have the opportunity to participate in the wonderful Student Loan Repayment Program called the National Health Services Corps (NHSC).

This is one of the many great benefits of working at Harbor Care. For more information about this Program, please cut and paste the link below into your browser.

Job Summary : Under the general supervision of a Dentist in a clinical setting, assists the dentist in providing dental treatment.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications :

• High school diploma or an associate's degree (or global equivalent) or GED
• CPR certification
• 2 years of dental assisting
• On the job training or Certification in Dental Assisting
• Excellent Customer Service skills
• Knowledge of computers and Microsoft software applications
• Experience with Electronic Health Record (EHR)
• Experience working with people from diverse populations

Preferred Qualifications :

• 5+ years dental assisting experience are preferred
• Experience with Dentrix / Eagle soft is a plus
• Bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese

Essential Job Functions :

• Assists in the provision of high-quality care within the scope of service consistent with accepted standards of care for dental assistants.
• Prepares each operatory and patient for treatment.
• Takes and prepares radiographs using conventional or digital technology.
• Provides active chairside assistance to the Dentist and anticipates the provider's needs.
• At the conclusion of patient care, assists the patient, clears the work site and prepares for the next patient.
• Monitors the flow of laboratory cases.
• Monitors and records sterilization cycles.
• Maintains and inventories supplies.
• Helps to manage patient flow in clinic.
• Follows proper infection control protocols for the practice.
• Participates in the ongoing evaluation of Dental Program operations to assure the delivery of high-quality services that support the financial sustainability of the program.
• Performance expectations-all Dental Assistants :
• Prepares and maintains dental instruments, supplies and equipment; prepares the operatory for the patient visit
• Seats patient in chair and explains procedures to be performed; Collects and records patient health histories
• Drapes patient with protective linens and sets up instrument tray containing instruments, suction, gauze and other required supplies.
• Prepares dental materials-cements, amalgams, composites, impression materials, etc.
• Takes and prepares radiographs using conventional or digital technology and following proper radiation safety precautions
• Assists with dental charting as appropriate
• Assists in the prevention and management of dental emergencies
• Manages the patient during dental procedures
• Provides active chairside assistance; transfers instruments as appropriate for four-handed dentistry; anticipates the dentist's needs
• Take impressions for study casts, athletic mouth guards and custom tray.
• Performs laboratory procedures neatly and efficiently.
• Pours models with no bubbles, properly trim models, polish dental prostheses, make vac-u-press forms
• At the conclusion of the procedure, assists patient, clears work site of instruments and other materials; follows proper infection control protocols and prepares the operatory for the next patient.
• Monitors and documents the flow of laboratory cases; maintains lab facility
• Performs, monitors and records all sterilization activities and maintains essential logs

Follows all COVID -19 protocols :

• Maintains proper aseptic techniques necessary with dental equipment; maintains and properly sterilizes instruments
• Routinely cleans, disinfects and restocks operatories
• Scans reception room for patients and helps to manage patient flow
• Maintain and inventory dental supplies and reorders as necessary; track and verify invoices
• Clean and sterilize all instruments; help to manage the dental office infection control plan to meet OSHA, CDC and ADA standards
• Performs miscellaneous duties within the Dental Program as assigned - like making appointments, answering the phone calls, presenting treatment plans etc.
• Maintains dental supply inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expedited orders for supplies.

Additional Performance expectations-Certified Dental Assistants :

• Polish the patient's teeth to remove stains and soft deposits
• Apply topical fluoride and varnishes
• Apply pit and fissure sealants
• Make provisional crowns
• Place topical medications Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• Work involves considerable exposure to unusual elements such as extreme temperatures, unpleasant odors and / or loud noises

Moderate physical activity.

• Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds, assisting with patients and standing and / or walking for most of the day
• Will work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment

Knowledge, Skill and Technical Qualities :

• Ability to set up and prepare dental equipment and instrumentation in accordance with established regulations and guidelines
• Ability to manage the dental office infection control plan to meet OSHA, CDC and ADA standards Maintains and expands current level of dental assistant skill and knowledge by periodically attending continuing education programs

Behavioral Qualities :

• Is a team player
• Accepts and offers guidance and supervision as appropriate
• Attends and participates in staff meeting to review team progress in meeting financial and productivity goals for the dental program
• Places a high value on personal and departmental performance excellence
• Adheres to office dress code and standards of behavior
• Maintains patient confidentiality
• Uses sick time appropriately
• Responds professionally to high-pressure situations and time limits
• Works independently with a minimum amount of supervision

Harbor Care's Commitment :

Model and enforce the "Red Carpet Treatment" among staff and clients comprised of the following :

• Earn our clients' trust
• Build long-term relationships
• Give Clients the best possible experience to make them feel like they're coming to a place they belong
• Provide the best quality of service
• Treat every Client with dignity and respect with each encounter
• You will prioritize communication from any Harbor Care employee seeking help for a client

Harbor Care is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.