Dental Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

The Mission of JWCH Institute is to improve the health status and well-being of under-served segments of the population of Los Angeles Area through the direct provision or coordination of health care, health education, services, and research.

This DA position may be required to work 1 Saturday a month at a different work site.

Position Purpose :

This position is responsible for assisting the Dentist(s) in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients at the clinic.

The Dental Assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments, supplies, and for proper infection control of all areas involving patient care.

Principal Responsibilities :

• Serves as dentist’s chair-side assistant and assists the dental hygienist as needed.
• Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering their questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist or hygienist.
• Prepares operation procedures for patient treatment as per Dental Department protocols and the dentist’s directions.
• Completion of dental radiographs in accordance with state regulations and law, as well as Dental Department directive’s and protocols.
• Performs independent procedures as delegated by the dentist in accordance with state regulation, law, and Department directive’s and protocols.
• Maintains all Dental Department equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s directions and Dental Department policy and protocol.
• Maintains adequate operation of supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
• Maintains a daily list of all scheduled Dental Department patients, monitors patient flow, and assists the dentist(s) in assuring that all patient records and documents are properly and accurately completed and filed.
• Receives and places necessary telephone calls consistent with professional matters, clinic business and patient care of the Dental Department.
• Ensures the sterility of all reusable dental instruments and equipment in accordance with Dental Department directive’s and protocols.
• Ensures the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with Dental Department directives, clinic policy, as well as state and federal regulations.
• Participates in appropriate health promotion / disease prevention activities, both on-site and off-site as required.
• Maintains Dental Department compliance, relative to Infection Exposure Control, safety, and HIPPA as required by local, State, and Federal guidelines, Dental Department directives and protocols, and clinic policies and procedures.
• May be required to perform front office duties such as : scheduling and confirming appointments, verify insurance / other pertinent patient eligibility, check patients in and out, collect co-pay and balance due and manage patient flow to reduce cycle time and enhance the patient experience, etc.

Education and Experience :

• High School diploma or GED certificate required.
• Completion of accredited course in dental assisting.
• X-Ray, infection control and current CPR and First Aid certificates required.
• Bilingual : English / Spanish is required.

Skills and Abilities :

• Effective written and oral communication.
• Comprehensive knowledge of dental assisting techniques and procedures for all phases of specialty and general dentistry.
• Knowledge of modern dental materials, their storage, handling and applications.
• Ability to work with persons from a wide diversity of social, ethnic and economic background.
• Ability to work creatively with other health care professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal results for the clinic’s patient, from a system of integrated primary health care.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance :

• Frequent exposure to communicable disease, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, radiation and other conditions common to a clinical environment may routinely be encountered.
• OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Classification - Category I.
• Utilizes appropriate Infection Control protocols.
• May be exposed to low level radiation.
• Will be exposed to outside environmental conditions while traveling.
• All JWCH, Wesley Health Centers workforce are recommended to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.

Employee Benefits :

JWCH Institute, Inc. offers competitive salaries for all positions. Employees working 30 hours per week or more receive a monthly allowance that can be applied toward medical, dental, and vision premiums.

JWCH also provides a partially funded Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), life insurance policies, accidental death and dismemberment policies, short-term and long-term disability plans, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care, employee assistance programs (EAP), generous sick leave plans, vacation time (PTO), 13 paid holidays, a 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing plan, mileage reimbursement, employee parking, and more!

JWCH Institute, Inc. + Wesley Health Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer.