Dental Assistant III - Westside Dental Clinic

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Our Values

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Department

Job Summary

The Dental Assistant III, under direct supervision, provides sub-professional dental work assisting dental providers in the care and treatment of dental patients. Demonstrates strong knowledge of all dental procedures. Able to anticipate and adapt to changes in the dental clinic schedule autonomously. Proficient in supporting all preventative, comprehensive, specialty, advanced dental procedures. Dental assisting will include surgical procedures and behavior management in the dental clinic as well as in the operating room. At the clinic level maintains the environment of care, manages daily schedules, and performs clinical and front office supportive functions. Is able to support and travel to all Denver Health dental clinics to dental assist as needed. At the chairside level, assists at the dental chair, acquires quality radiographic images and diagnostic material, records and tracks patient data, provides excellent communication, and performs sound infection control practices and techniques. At the employee level is able to confidently train and role model in all dental assisting areas including specialty procedures. Comfortable giving and receiving feedback. Problem solver for clinic operations and willing to teach and support other team members. Works independently on special projects and appropriately delegates tasks. Promotes positive and professional interpersonal relationships and supports the team concept.

Essential Functions:

• At the Clinic Level:
  * Provides recommendations for clinical process, standard work, and care efficiency.
  * Proactively supports regulatory agency compliance.
  * Floats and supports patient care adapting to scheduling and staffing changes.
  * Maintaining all environment of care areas, including equipment, dental materials, and stocking of supplies in all rooms to ensure that the clinic is functional and in good working order. i.e. (Completing champion duties, stocking rooms during downtime, and helping set up and breakdown rooms for other team members.)
  * Reviews daily schedules to determine needs for the day for the TEAM and communicates adjustments for proper patient flow. i.e. (continuously observes schedule for changes throughout the day of, next day, and week. Scrubs schedule for the above during downtime.)
  * Begin to learn time management and office flow.
  * Supports and able to perform front office duties.
  (40%)
• At the Chair Side Level:
  * Demonstrates strong knowledge base of all dental procedures.
  * Reviews and answers questions during consent process.
  * Sets up and prepares according to dental treatment including pulling up appropriate charting notes.
  * Communicates well with patients and providers with particular attention to time management.
  * Completes all rooming task questions.
  * Acquires diagnostic and quality radiographic images for the providers with good visibility and contrast.
  * Provides chair side dental assistance to all providers
  * Properly handling of dental instruments and sterilization of needed equipment.
  * Proper Asepsis techniques and practices in the operatories
  * Follows OSHA, Joint Commission, EPA, and HIPAA regulations and guidelines. i.e.
  * Understands individual patient needs; Exhibits age appropriate care.
  * Assist with all areas of Recall and Preventative Exams.
  * Proper handoff to Patient Access Specialist (PAS); communicate next steps/patient status.
  * Detail oriented and perceptive to doctor and teammates needs
  * Maintains Dental Operatory. (45%)
• At the Employee Level:
  * Demonstrates team player effort.
  * Promotes positive interpersonal (customer) relationships with fellow employees, physicians, patients and visitors.
  * Treats these individuals with courtesy, dignity, empathy and respect; consistently displays courteous and respectful verbal and non-verbal communications.
  * Confidently trains and role models in all dental areas including OR.
  * Comfortable with giving and receiving feedback; critical to peer review/evaluation process
  * Able to adapt with time management and support when training. (15%)

Education:

• No High School Diploma and/or No GED Required

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience providing chair side assistance to dental providers in the examination and treatment of patients required

Licenses:

• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross required
• CDA-Certified Dental Assistant - DANB - Dental Assisting National Board Inc

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of chair side assistance especially advanced specialty procedures to ensure effective implementation of four-handed dentistry principles.
• Knowledge of dental materials such as composites, amalgam, impression materials, and cements
• Knowledge clinical and dental operatory maintenance and preparedness
• Knowledge of OSHA, CDC, ADA Joint Commission safety guidelines.
• Proficient electronic dental health records/software.
• Knowledge of front office administrative duties.
• Ability to assist in maintaining dental office equipment especially emergency response and sedation equipment.
• Ability to function as an enthusiastic, caring and compassionate individual who enjoys working with patients of all ages and patients with special needs care. Calming, positive, and supportive chairside manner

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future - with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development - while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you're joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays

• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks

• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%

• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.

• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center

• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Tuition reimbursement & assistance

• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways

• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver's 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado's primary, and essential, safety-net health care system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.