Lead Dental Assistant

Lead Dental Assistant

The Lead Dental Assistant is responsible for providing excellence in customer service and support to the dental assistants and Providers for clinical treatment. Assists the Dentist in the examination and treatment of patients, responsible for a variety

of chair-side, clinical, and clerical support functions. Assists with preparing operatories and patients for dental procedures and monitoring patient comfort. Responsible for ensuring operational readiness of the clinical back office and staff.

POSITION-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTION/DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Excellent customer service: Greets all patients and team members with a cheerful outlook and demeanor.
  
  Addresses patient needs to ensure they have a superior experience. Displays empathy, actively listens and communicates clearly and effectively.

• Operational readiness: Responsible for ensuring operatories and dental equipment are working properly, and supplies are available for all scheduled procedures. Ensures that dental support staff reviews patient electronic records 48-72 hours prior to the patient's appointment to ensure that the office is prepared for the patient's appointment.

• Collaboration: Collaborates with the dentist and other staff to coordinate quality, compassionate, and customer-friendly dental care. Informs scheduled patients of any delays due to emergencies, schedules backups, etc.

• Education/Communication: Responsible for ensuring that all patients are guided through the treatment process before treatment begins.
  
  Educates in oral hygiene instruction and provides postoperative instructions. Establishes a reason for the visit and instructs the patient in preparation for the dentist's examination.

• Contribution: Responsible for assisting with various prosthetic and restorative procedures including impressions, evacuations, retraction, cementation, and homeostasis.
  
  Assist with the mixing of diverse types of materials, dispense, and set-up. Assist patients in need of help, i.e., handicapped, pediatric, elderly, etc. Works with the dental team in optimizing the efficiency of the office to improve service to patients by building teamwork and assisting with the facilitation of department huddles.

• Compliance: Responsible for monitoring proper infection control techniques and performing daily/weekly and monthly infection control procedures and logs findings. Responsible for confirming that Dental Assistant staff is knowledgeable regarding the departments required infection control monitoring.

• Teamwork: Provides back up for the back-office staff as needed and when requested at all MHSI locations.

• Training/Continuing Education: Completes expanded duties skill checklist during probationary period.

• Perform other job-related duties, as assigned.

Monthly Dental Assistant Goals:

• Completes rooming process 100% of the time, establishes reason for visit, updates patient chart, i.e., vitals, medical history, program area, interpreter, chaperone, tooth chart etc.

• Completes clinic opening/closing procedures 100% of the time to ensure department readiness.

• Works efficiently and effectively with Provider to guarantee daily/weekly and monthly dental visit productivity goal of 80% or greater is met consistently.

• Attends department meetings/huddles 95-100% to confirm knowledge of department changes, updates, and workflows.

• Completes all required job specific trainings 100% of the time.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education: High school graduate or equivalent with additional education and completion of an approved dental assistant course.

Experience: Three to five years' experience as a dental assistant in a dental office setting. Background experience in insurance regulations, dental procedure/surgery scheduling, and dental terminology and triaging helpful.

Expertise: Knowledge of dental terminology.

Basic computer skills. Excellent people skills, empathy, and tact, when dealing with insurance companies, patients, and other health care facilities. Must be willing and able to assume the responsibilities delegated by the dental manager, to provide efficient and effective coordination of care.

Must be willing to adapt to changing situations and circumstances. Requires effective communication, organization, and multitasking skills.

Language: Comprehend and use basic language either written or spoken to communicate information and ideals.

Hours of Work: May vary based on Organizational need.

Travel: May vary based on Organizational need.

Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.