Dental Assistant (Certification/Diploma In Dental Assisting)

ORGANIZATION

The mission of Ravenswood Family Health Network (RFHN) is to improve the health of the community by providing culturally sensitive, integrated primary and preventative health care to all, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status, and collaborating with community partners to address the social determinants of health.

Ravenswood Family Dentistry (RFD) is a dental clinic located in East Palo Alto. We offer dental care to people of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay. As a multi-cultural community dental clinic, our goal is to provide excellent comprehensive dental care to our patients and promote oral health.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Dental Back Office Manager, the Dental Assistant is tasked with assisting dental providers with all treatments. This position serves as the dentist's or dental hygienist's chair-side assistant and is responsible for preparing operatories and instruments for patient treatment, taking accurate dental radiographs, assures that all patient records and documents are properly and accurately documented in the electronic dental record, sanitizes operatories and participates in appropriate health promotion/disease prevention activities, both on-site and off-site as required, assists with inventory, sterilization, and other duties as assigned.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To be performed in accordance with RFHN Policies and Procedures

• Assists patients in completing forms, answering their questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist or hygienist.
• Serves as the dental provider's chair-side assistant.
• Prepares operatories for patient treatment as per the dental provider's directions.
• Sets up, takes and confirms that dental radiographs are accurate as ordered.
• Places varnishes as ordered and directed.
• Follows OSHA infection control guidelines and RFD infection control policies and procedures.
• Maintains dental equipment and areas in accordance with manufacturer's directions and Dental Department policy and protocol.
• Maintains adequate operatory supplies and compiles a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
• Assists dental providers in assuring that all patient records and documents are properly and accurately completed and filed.
• Assists with various clinical and administrative functions as appropriate.
• Ensures the proper disposal of all materials in accordance with Dental Department directive, center policy, as well as state and federal regulation(s).
• Other duties as assigned and requested.