Sr. Dental Assistant

University of Miami•Miami, FL

About The Position

The department of surgery is currently seeking a full-time Sr. Dental Assistant to work full-time in Miami. The Sr. Dental Assistant oversees and supports dental care delivery by preparing treatment rooms, patients, instruments, and materials. Moreover, the Senior Dental Assistant assists Dentists during procedures, and performs minor procedures as permitted by the Dental Practice Act.

Requirements

Associate degree or Technical Certificate (CDA or Expanded Functions)
Minimum 3 years of relevant experience
Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
Ability to analyze, organize and prioritize work under pressure while meeting deadlines.
Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends as necessary.
Commitment to the University’s core values.
Ability to work independently and/or in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Makes provisions to ensure patients are welcomed, comforted, and seated.
Provides instrumentation by sterilizing and delivering instruments to treatment area.
Provides materials by selecting, mixing, and placing materials on instruments and in the patient's mouth.
Provides diagnostic information by exposing and developing radiographic studies.
Pours, trims, and polishes study casts, and cleans and polishes removable appliances.
Fabricating temporary restorations and taking impressions / intraoral scans.
Maintains emergency drug and oxygen supply, and emergency telephone directory.
Educates patients by giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions.
Documents dental care services by charting in patients’ records.
Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
Maintains a safe and clean working environment.
Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control protocols.
Ensures proper operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements, troubleshooting malfunctions, and coordinating repairs.
Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing, and expediting orders, and verifying receipt of supplies.
Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional societies.
Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.
Obtains vital signs and patient information for inclusion in the patient’s medical record.
Prepares exam room for examination.
Assists with physical examinations by preparing supplies and handling instruments/materials to the doctor as directed.
Assist all dental and surgical providers with all in-office procedures, set up, instrumentation, kits, and any other needs as required of the procedure being performed.
Provides patients with basic instructions and information regarding examination / procedures.
Cleans and sterilizes instruments; observes the principles of sterile technique in performing duties.
Timely turn over for rooms to expedite care and efficiency.
Cleans all patient room surfaces in accordance to UHealth’s infection control and patient safety guidelines.
Perform basic dental imaging, handle imaging devices such as X-ray machines (static and portable), 3D scanners, etc.
Adequately process surgical specimens' collection and oversee lab pick-up.
Maintain integrity of all department/division logs (E.g., dental lab logs, specimen logs, sedation logs, medications logs, crash cart logs, etc.)
Maintain accurate and complete patient record/documentation.
Orders, stocks, and inventories supply and assists in performing clerical duties.
Escorts and transports patients to various hospital locations.
Crosstrain and cross-cover other areas or clinics based on departmental need, travel offsite may be necessary.
Other duties as required of department operational needs.