Job Description
This position is contingent upon award
International Health and Medical Services is looking for an experienced Dental Assistant to perform supportive dental functions that facilitate the work of the dentist and dental hygienist including aiding at chairside, instrument processing, sterilization, infection control, radiographic tasks, dental equipment care, and administrative chores as directed by the dentist within prescribed policy and accreditation standards.
- Provides dental assisting including clinical and administrative duties to facilitate the work of the dentist and dental hygienist in a detention and/or residential setting in accordance with prescribed IHSC policy and pertinent accreditation standards.
- Assists the dentist and dental hygienist with patient treatment including all operatory set-up and clean-up procedures in accordance with IHSC policy and CDC guidelines (e.g. surface disinfection, waterline and suction treatment, proper sharps handling/disposal methods, etc).
- Performs optimum sterilization and/or disinfection procedures including instrument processing, autoclave operation/maintenance, and spore testing in accordance with IHSC policy and CDC guidelines.
- Assists with the maintenance of patient's record through appointment scheduling, documentation of subjective findings, vital signs, dictated oral conditions, and preparation/completion of dental forms.
- Provides patient education including oral hygiene instructions, post-operative instructions, and availability of care instructions.
- Takes digital and/or film radiographs as ordered including bitewing, periapical, and panoramic x-rays.
- Observes IHSC radiation safety protocols, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radiation Protection Guidance and recommendations, National Council on Radiation Protection Guidance, and American Dental Association recommendations/guidance when exposing dental radiographs to assure optimal patient and provider safety.
- Maintains sharps and instrument accountability in the dental clinic through performance and logging of daily inventory of all sharps and instruments at the beginning and end of each workday.
- Maintains all required logs/ inventories to include but not limited to biological monitoring log, biopsy log, sharps log, instrument log, chemical inventory, maintenance logs, etc.
- Collects and organizes dental data and submits to the regional dental consultant in a timely manner.
- Attends monthly dental teleconferences, organizational and local duty station meetings.
- May periodically be asked to travel to support dental care at other sites.
- Performs duties in support of the local medical unit and/or IHSC Dental Program (e.g. equipment maintenance, supply/equipment acquisition, performance improvement initiatives, document scanning, etc).
- In the absence of the dentist and/or dental hygienist, the dental assistant will provide support services to the medical clinic under the direction of the supervisory authority or designee (e.g. performing vital signs and/or other duties within the scope of dental assistant practice).
- Adheres to and maintains awareness of all IHSC policies, procedures, directives, operational memoranda and accreditation standards.
- Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in all communications with coworkers and clients, fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment that values diversity.
- Complete required organizational compliance education, including assigned requirements that are client-specified, for Joint Commission Healthcare Staffing Services certification or other regulatory bodies.
This list is non-exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake additional duties that are not specifically listed above.