Dental Assistant

Job Summary:

Provide direct support to dentists, hygienists, denturists and other provider personnel in the delivery of dental care and service within a Kaiser Permanente dental office.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Performs all of the duties permitted a dental assistant consistent with the individuals training and in the presence of or under the observation of a licensed provider as referenced in State Dental Practice Act and the related Administrative Rules. These duties to include: Apply topical anesthetic and desensitizing agents, as directed by the provider. Removal of sutures and post-extraction and periodontal dressings. Retract a patients cheek, tongue, or other tissue during an operation. Assist in the placement or removal of a rubber dam. Remove debris created during operative procedures with a vacuum device, compressed air, mouth washes, or water. Extra-oral procedures which are not hazardous, Inspect the oral cavity using a mirror. Dry root canals with paper points. Place temporary filling material into the endodontic access. Take impressions for periodontal night guard. Polish the coronal surfaces of teeth when a dentist or hygienist has determined teeth are free of calculus. Train persons (patients) in techniques of oral hygiene and prevention of oral disease. Place films (dental radiographs), adjust equipment preparatory to exposing films, and expose films.
• In support of the practice of a dentist provider who is not an orthodontist; Preliminary select and size bands. Remove fixed orthodontic appliances. Check for loose bands and brackets. Remove ligature ties and head appliances. Place and remove arch wires, elastics and orthodontic separators. Take intra-oral measurements for orthodontic procedures. Remove supra-gingival orthodontic bracket bonding material with a hand piece that does not exceed 25,000 revolutions per minute. Place ligature ties and head appliances. Train persons (patients) in techniques of oral hygiene and prevention of oral disease. Place films (dental radiographs), adjust equipment preparatory to exposing films, and expose films. Organize patients dental record consistent with established guidelines, confirm its availability and assure that it is in order and ready for providers use at the time care and service is to be provided. Greet, introduce self to, and inform patient of general treatment to be provided and provider to be seen consistent with established Kaiser Permanente Behavioral Guidelines. Review health questionnaire with patient and notify provider of reported conditions that could effect treatment. Promote patients emotional comfort by gaining rapport, instilling confidence and promoting tranquility. Inform and answer patients and/or parents questions regarding care and service provided as directed by provider.
• Anticipate needs of provider in the delivery of patient care and service. Communicate information important to maintaining the proper scheduling and flow of patients consistent with information recorded in the patients dental record. Prepare, organize, arrange and pass dental instruments, supplies and materials as requested by the provider and required by established guidelines. Establish and maintain a clear and clean operating field. Record and verify information in the patients dental record according to established procedures. Record and/or verify all patient care and service related information on all necessary forms and documents consistent with established guidelines and in a manner that accurately reflects the information documented in the patients dental record. As required in support of direct patient care activities, enter, retrieve and transmit patient care and service related information via the Programs automated patient and provider scheduling system (TEAM), consistent with established guidelines and training. Respond to medical emergency situations consistent with established guidelines. Expose and process dental radiographs as required consistent with established guidelines and radiology equipment use specifications. Take patients blood pressure and accurately record in patients dental record. Clean and sterile and process instruments consistent with established guidelines. Maintain clean, orderly, well organized and supplied work environment, including assigned operatory, laboratory and instrument processing areas, consistent with established infection control. Assure proper handling of all materials in accordance with hazard communication program and infection control guidelines. Assure proper functioning of equipment through the periodic completion of established preventive maintenance procedures such as cleaning and oiling, and reporting non-functioning, damaged, etc. equipment to office manager or supervisor in a timely manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the office manager or supervisory personnel that are consistent with the individuals training and experience in an active and cooperative manner. Act in conformance with established program policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols, the Administrative Rules of the State Board of Dentistry, the State Dental Practice Act and any other laws and regulations that govern the role and responsibilities of the dental assistant and satisfactorily maintain the established qualifications for selection towards this position. Perform the following functions provided that the dentist is on the premises and the dentist checks the patient before and after the functions are performed; Place matrix retainers for alloy and composite restorations. Polish amalgam restorations. Remove supra-gingival excess cement. Take impressions for the following purposes; Diagnostic models. Counter and opposing models. Fabrication of temporary restorations. Intra-oral bite registration for study model articulation. Place and remove a rubber dam, Fabricate temporary plastic-type crowns. Assist in monitoring patients that are being administered nitrous oxide consistent with established guidelines. Other duties appropriate for EFDA as authorized by Board of Dentistry rules and regulations.