Dental Assistant

Overview

Matrix Providers is hiring a Dental Assistant to join our team of talented professionals who provide health care services to our Military Service Members and their families in Newport, Rhode Island.

Responsibilities

Dental Assistant Core Job Duties:

• Performs duties in providing assistance in one or more phases of complex/difficult restorative, prosthodontic, oral surgical, endodontic, or periodontal treatment. Receives and schedules patients for treatment.
• Obtains and records related medical history of patient. Charts examination and treatment information. Records information on prescriptions.
• Sterilizes instruments, materials, and equipment; prepares surgical trays. Maintains dental equipment in a clean and operative condition.
• Assists dentist at chair side. Performs intra-oral procedures as directed by dentist. Takes preliminary impressions for study models, removes sutures, places and removes rubber dams, perio-packs, matrix bands, and wedges.
• Relays dentist’s instructions to patient for post-treatment care. Instructs patient in proper dental techniques, care of appliances, and causes of dental decay.
• Operates dental X-ray equipment to take intra and extra oral radiographs. Maintains, cleans, and performs minor repairs on X-ray equipment and materials.
• Pours and trims models from impressions and constructs custom impression trays. Maintains a variety of recurring reports related to dental activities.

Dental Assistant Specific Job Duties:

• Contractor personnel shall perform a full range of duties consistent with their labor category, education, training, experience, clinical privileges (as applicable), and assigned position. General duties that apply to all personnel or across certain labor categories are given below.
• Maintain a level of productivity comparable with that of other individuals performing similar services.
• Practice aseptic techniques, as necessary. Comply with infection control guidelines to include the proper handling, storage, and disposal of infectious wastes, and the use of universal precautions to prevent the spread of infection.
• Function with an awareness and application of safety procedures.
• Perform efficiently in emergency patient situations following established protocols, remaining calm, informing appropriate persons, and documenting events. Anticipate potential problems/emergencies and make appropriate interventions. Notify supervisor, director, or other designated government person regarding problems that the HCW is unable to manage.
• Apply an awareness of legal issues in all aspects of patient care and strive to manage situations in a reduced risk manner.
• Participate in the implementation of the Family Advocacy Program as directed. Participation shall include, but not be limited to, appropriate medical examination, documentation, and reporting.
• Exercise awareness and sensitivity to patient/significant others\’ rights, as identified within the MTF.
• Maintain an awareness of responsibility and accountability for own professional practice.
• Participate in continuing education to meet own professional growth. Basic Life Support (BLS) and other trainings in support of professional licensure or credentials may not be obtained at the MTF by a HCW during working hours.
• Attend and/or comply with all annual training classes required by the Command, to include but not limited to online annual training provided by the MTF: disaster training, infection control, Sexual Harassment, Bloodborne Pathogens, Fire and Safety, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE), and all other required training.
• Actively participate in the command’s Performance Improvement Program. Participate in meetings to review and evaluate the care provided to patients, identify opportunities to improve the care delivered, and recommend corrective action when problems exist.
• Participate in the provision of in-service training to clinic staff members. Provide training and/or clinical direction as applicable to supporting government employees (e.g., hospital corpsmen, students, etc.).
• Attend and participate in various meetings as directed.
• Perform timely, accurate, and concise documentation of patient care.
• Operate and manipulate automated systems such as electronic health record, ADS, Essentris, Clinical Information System (CIS) and various other databases, participate in clinical staff Performance Improvement (PI) and Risk Management (RM) functions, as prescribed by the Commander. Maintain DOD email account as directed. The HCW shall be responsive to all email and voicemail communications.
• Exercise appropriate delegation of tasks and duties in the clinical direction and coordination of health care team members, patient care, and clinic activities.
• Maintain documentation of all treatment provided in accordance with clinic directives and prepare such records and reports as may be required. All records and reports must be legible. Abbreviations must be only those listed in local instructions.

Qualifications

Employment Status: Full Time

Schedule: Dental Assistant services shall be provided Monday through Friday, between the hours of 6:30 and 5:00 hours. Shifts will be required for a period of 8.5 to 9 hours, including an uncompensated .5 or 1-hour meal break, depending on shift length.

Benefits: Competitive financial package with a comprehensive insurance package including health, dental, vision, and life coverage.

• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays (Outlined in Handbook)
• 401(k) Plan

Experience: Six months of experience as a Dental Assistant after graduation.

• Degree: Certificate.
• Education: Successful completion of a one of the following:

• Certificate or Associate Degree as a dental assistant/technician from a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) of the American Dental Association (ADA) and 12 months experience within the preceding 36 months.
• Certification from a military dental technician or dental assistant school and 12 months experience within the preceding 36 months.
• Certification from a Red Cross Dental Assistant course and 12 months experience within the preceding 36 months.
• 36 months experience within the preceding 60 months as a dental assistant in a private practice or a military clinic.
• Membership in good standing with the American Association of Dental Assistants with required continuing education and 12 months experience within the preceding 36 months.
• Graduation from a state accredited program for dental assistants or dental technology within the preceding 12 months.
• All training must have included a course in radiation physics; radiation biology; radiation health, safety, and protection; X-ray films and radiographic film quality; radiographic techniques; darkroom and processing techniques; film mounting; and digital radiographic processing techniques.

Certification: Certified in radiography as required by 42 CFR Part 75. Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, American Heart Association, or American Red Cross Healthcare Provider Course.