Job Description

Dental Assistant, Community Smiles

Valley Health Partners, Allentown, PA

Job Summary:

Assists dentist during the examination and treatment of patients within the dental medicine program of Valley Health Partners Community Health Center (VHP). Primary duties include maintaining treatment rooms, laboratory, instruments, equipment, and sterilizes dental instruments. Assists with clerical duties as directed including patient check in/out and ordering dental supplies. This position will primarily focus on providing dental care for a mostly pediatric population and may assist on a mobile Dental Unit.

Education:

• High School Diploma/GED or equivalent.
• Postsecondary nondegree award, preferred.

Experience:

• One year of dental assisting experience in a healthcare setting, preferred.
• Dental assisting experience in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) setting, preferred.

Certificate/Training:

• Successful completion of Radiation Health and Safety Exam (RHS) from Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) upon hire or within 6 months of hire
• BLS (Basic Life Support Training) upon hire.

Knowledge needed:

• Possesses basic computer skills and digital radiology knowledge.
• Demonstrated desire to work with children in a pediatric setting
• Ability to maintain a calm disposition and a talent for building rapport with young patients who may be scared or anxious
• Has knowledge / observation or willingness to learn dental specialties, endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, extractions, prosthetics, and pedodontics.
• Has experience in chair side assisting skills, previous experience in oral surgery, restorative dentistry, and prosthetic dentistry.
• Has ability and desire to provide culturally sensitive, compassionate, and patient-centric care through outstanding written and oral communication skills.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish, preferred.

Essential Functions:

• Assembles and sets up equipment and supplies necessary for patient treatment.
• Documents patient safety issues as needed into the designated reporting system.
• Performs basic dental radiographic procedures and ensures radiological exposure protection for patients.
• Performs clean-up activities in the operatory, observing safety and infection control policies, procedures, and

protocols in handling instruments, equipment, and supplies.

• Performs infection control of instruments in sterilization room.
• Provides chair side assistance and aid to dentists, as directed.
• Escorts patients into treatment room, provides assistance as necessary utilizing good body mechanics for patient.
• Rooms patients in Electronic Medical Record. Reports relevant patient/visitor requests and concerns as appropriate; communicates observations related to patient health.
• Performs clerical and administrative duties, as necessary based on operational program needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Floats to other locations as assigned based on business needs

Benefits:

• Choice of medical, dental, and vision plans with great coverage at VERY affordable rates.
• 403b Retirement Plan with generous company match
• Paid Time Off for holidays, vacation, sick & personal days
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement