Job Description

JOB SUMMARY/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The Clinical Dental Assistant provides chairside assistance and clinical practice support for faculty, residents, and dental students in the Pediatric Dentistry department. This position rotates between the pediatric dentistry clinics at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and at the College of Dentistry.

Responsibilities
Provides chairside assistance, such as oral evacuations, retractions, and instrument exchange.
Ensures the presence of necessary equipment, instruments, and materials for chairside procedures and that the working area, instruments, and equipment meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sterilization regulations.
Prepares and mixes dental materials.
Monitors and maintains the safety of nitrous oxide usage; cleans and sterilizes instruments and nitrous oxide masks.
Exposes, processes, and labels x-ray film (including periapical, occlusal, and panoramic film).
Prepares and maintains routine and non-routine order requisitions for supplies and equipment.
Documents the patient record as the doctor dictates findings.
Answers multi-line phones and makes patient appointments.
Maintains necessary inventory supplies and equipment.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
EDUCATION:

High School Diploma or GED. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

EXPERIENCE:

One (1) year of experience working in a dental office or dental laboratory. Must maintain registration as a licensed dental assistant in the State of Tennessee. Nitrous Oxide Monitoring and Radiology Certification required. (PROOF OF LICENSURE IS REQUIRED). (Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) with the Dental Assistant National Board Certification (DANB) is preferred. Graduate of CODA accredited school preferred.)

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION:

A Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in the State of Tennessee, with certification in radiology and nitrous oxide monitoring, is required. CDA (DANB) certification preferred. (PROOF OF LICENSURE IS REQUIRED)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

Knowledge of all areas of dental assisting as outlined by the State of Tennessee Board of Dentistry, to include the setup of operatory, instrument transfer, correct sequencing of instruments, and dental material according to procedure.
Ability to provide all supportive services or procedures necessary to protect the physical well-being of the patient during routine treatment procedures and during periods of emergencies, including, but not limited to physical positioning of the patient, monitoring of vital signs, assistance during administration of life-support activities, and any other non-invasive procedures deemed necessary by the supervising dentist to maintain the health and safety of the patient.