Job Description

Job Description

Job Description

I. POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Dental Director and Director of Dental Clinical Operations, the Dental Lab Technician and Dental Assistant Trainer performs duties which assist the dentist in planning, designing, and fabricating or repairing dental prostheses for individual patients. The position also organizes and conducts dental assistant training to improve clinical support proficiency and serves as a leadership resource in the absence of a Lead Dental Assistant.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all duties and responsibilities of the job assignment. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on clinic needs, and may include but not be limited to the following:

Dental Lab Technician Duties

• Utilizes 3D software, milling equipment, and other equipment to aid in the fabrication of dental prostheses.

• Performs tasks to fabricate or repair dental prostheses, including:

o Scanning digital impressions during patient care, as directed by the dentists.

o Reviewing lab prescriptions and specifications, clarifying milling designs with dentists as needed.

o Fabricating dental prostheses via milling and finishing processes with a high degree of accuracy and quality.

• Completes prostheses within a reasonable timeframe to decrease the period between prosthesis digital scan and prosthesis delivery.

• Maintains a proper inventory of milling materials, ensuring material is available and in proper condition.

• Ensures all maintenance and calibration is performed on all milling equipment, as per equipment design specifications.

• Serves as a leadership resource to dental assistants in the absence of a Lead Dental Assistant.

Dental Assistant Trainer Duties

• Trains and develops Dental Assistants to the skillsets and proficiencies of assisting doctors and hygienists, as outlined within the Dental Assistant Training and Development Program. Areas include, but is not limited to, OSHA, terminology, anatomy, infection control, x-rays, charting, four-handed dentistry, and practice management software proficiency.

• Conducts training via learning modules and hands-on opportunities, as outlined within the Dental Assistant Core Competencies checklist.

• Reviews the dental assistant training and development program periodically and suggests opportunistic areas to improve the program.

• Demonstrates all job requirements of the Dental Assistant (as outlined in the Dental Assistant Position Description) proficiently.

• Aids the dentist or dental hygienist in the administration of treatment through four-handed practices at chairside:

o Maintains responsibility and obligation, primarily to the dental providers.

o Assures that all instruments, electronic charting, and radiographs are available in the operatory prior to the arrival of the patient.

o Provides proper instruments, at the correct time, in proper sequence for any given treatment procedure.

o Prepares dental materials correctly, as needed, and in an amount appropriate to meet the needs of the procedure but as not to allow wasting of materials.

o Anticipates the sequence of dental procedures and is prepared in advance so that the dentist may work as efficiently as possible.

o Maintains a clean oral working area.

• Promotes an atmosphere supportive of good dental and general health for HICHC’s patients

o Demonstrates good personal oral hygiene as an example to our patients and parents.

o Interviews each patient/parent/guardian to ascertain home care status, either during breaks in the treatment or prior to the dentist's arrival.

o Instructs patients in techniques of flossing, brushing, and disclosing to help remedy any concerns detected in home care.

o Completes questionnaire on caries risk assessment w/ parents/guardian and promotes self-management.

o Documents goals for the next visit.

• Maintains a sterile and neat working environment.

o All chairside clean up/set up procedures are completed before any patient is seated.

o Any portions of the dental chair exposed to saliva or the oral cavity are disinfected before any patient is seated.

o Cleans and sterilizes instruments.

o Performs routine cleaning and maintenance on sterilization area and work areas.

o Hand washing will take place immediately prior to seating every patient.

• Reviews patient health history, inputs chart entries under the direction of the provider, and completes consent forms.

o The date of the health history review and any changes are entered on the treatment page and initialed/verified by the assistant.

o All exam findings and treatments rendered are recorded completely and accurately in the patient's chart.

o Clinical information entered in the electronic health record is completed by the dental assistant.

o Patients are dismissed with necessary records complete.

• Assumes the responsibilities associated with any expanded duties that may be delegated by the dentist.

o Accepts delegation of only those duties within their personal skill levels.

o Exposes X ray films suitable for diagnostic purposes as directed by the prescribing Dentist.

o Pours and trims models and performs other lab duties.

o Schedules patients and performs routine reception duties.

o Accurately records information in patient records.

o Helps to identify related medical and/or social problems.

o Orders supplies and materials.

o Maintains inventory of supplies and materials as well as maintaining thorough and accurate documentation of inventory.

• Acquaints the patient with the aspects of his/her dental visit and provides support and compassion to the patient when it is needed.

• Serves as a leadership resource to dental assistants in the absence of a Lead Dental Assistant

III. POSITION SPECIFICATIONS

Requirements of Position

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• High School graduate or GED certificate.

• 2+ years adult dental assisting experience preferred.

• Excellent computer skills.

• Proficiency in using inLab CAD software preferred.

• Proficiency in using CEREC Primescan digital scanners preferred.

• Leadership experience preferred.

• Full time position and ability to work and travel to all sites.

• Must have a desire to work with infants, children, adolescents, adults and their families.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability and willingness to learn.

• Ability and desire to uphold the mission of the Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center:

o To make quality, comprehensive, and integrated health services accessible to all regardless of income. These services will be culturally sensitive and will promote community well-being through the practice of “malama pono.”

• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication with patients and coworkers.

• A desire to expand abilities.

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

• Ability to motivate patients.

• Ability to prepare and maintain charts, records, logs and reports.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships with patients and staff.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as government regulations and guidelines, patient records, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.

• Ability to write at a minimal level of competence, including internal reports and memoranda.

• Ability to communicate with diverse groups of people to include staff and providers and patients.

• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families to make their visit a pleasant experience.

• Sensitivity to the multicultural nature of the service area population and provide language translation services to patients as needed.

Personal Characteristics

Following a training and orientation period, performs the essential functions and elements of this position, not to exceed six (6) months. Incumbent must be able to maintain complete confidentiality of all dental records, patient interviews and office memoranda. Personal characteristics to include: a team player, professional, personal and professional integrity, excellent communication, excellent customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, and gain and maintain respect of others, both inside and outside HICHC.

Confidential and Sensitive Information

Because the employee has access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, personal data regarding individual patients and the families, and/or sensitive company financial data, an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee. Violation of this confidence may result in disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS/WORKING CONDITIONS

General Remarks: The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks and functions.

Working Conditions: Dental Clinic environment with possible exposure to airborne and bloodborne pathogens

Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. There are no known environmental hazards on the premises. Work environment is often stressful. Work is mostly inside, and normal office worker safety precautions and practices are required. Incumbent may be exposed to patients' conditions and some-unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases including virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in working environment. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series.

Equipment Use: Frequent use of telephone system and office equipment including but not limited to computer, printer, facsimile machine, copier, and general office supplies. Occasional use of wheelchair, gurney and other assisted devices for patient transfers in the clinic.

Work Hours: 40 hours per week. Overtime may be required.

Mental Demands: Duties require attention to detail, alertness, problem solving, tolerance to stress and exercising sound judgment. Duties require high tolerance and adequate coping skills for dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. Good stress reduction and management skills are essential.

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