Mora Valley Community Health Services, Inc.
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE:
Dental Assistant
DEPARTMENT:
Dental
REPORTS TO:
Dental Director
SUPERVISES:
None
JOB PURPOSE:
Under general supervision, provides a full range of support for dental
and administrative services. Performance of dental procedures to
include taking radiographs and records management. Management of
daily clinical procedures following established protocols and policies.
Assists in coordinating patient treatment with clinic schedule, lab
schedule and insurance-financial coordinator. Assist with office
support activities.
ESSENTIAL JOB RESULTS
1. PROVIDES CHAIRSIDE ASSISTANCE TO DENTIST AND/OR HYGIENIST IN ALL DISCIPLINES OF DENTAL
PROCEDURES IN A TIMELY AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
2. INTERVIEWS PATIENTS FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL INFORMATION FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF PATIENT
CARE, AND ACCURATELY RECORDS INFORMATION INTO PATIENT RECORDS.
3. HAS KNOWLEDGE OF DENTAL PROTOCOL TO EDUCATE AND ADVISE PATIENTS ON SPECIFIC DENTAL
TREATMENT/ISSUES AND GIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR ONGOING DENTAL TREATMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF
ORAL HEALTH.
4. ACCURATELY OBTAINS PATIENT RADIOGRAPHS, MANAGES PLACEMENT INTO PT RECORD AND
ELECTRONICALLY RECORDS TREATMENT AND CHANGES AS DICTATED BY THE DENTIST OR OFFICE POLICY.
5. USING INFECTION CONTROL METHODS AND OSHA GUIDELINES, WILL MAINTAIN
STRICT STANDARDS OF DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION WHERE NECESSARY IN OPERATORIES, ON
EQUIPMENT, IN STERILIZATION AREA, AND IN PROCESSING OF CONTAMINATED INSTRUMENTS.
6. MONITOR AND MAINTAIN DENTAL EQUIPMENT IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
MANUFACTURER INSTRUCTIONS AND CLINIC GUIDELINES.
7. PRATICE SAFETY, ENVIORNMENTAL, AND INFECTION CONTROL METHODS AT ALL TIMES.
8. PERFORMS VARIOUS JOB-RELATED DUTIES PER REQUEST OR AS ASSIGNED.
9. PARTICIPATES IN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES.
10. TRACK AND COORDINATE ROUTINE TASKS
11. MAINTAIN PROFESSIONALISM AT ALL TIMES TO ENSURE SERVICE QUALITY AND INTEGRITY.
12. CONTRIBUTES TO TEAM EFFORT.
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REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Job Qualifications
Education:
Dental Assisting Certificate
State of NM Board of Dental Health Radiology Licensure
Bilingual English/Spanish Preferred
Experience:
One year experience in dental procedures, dental assisting, instrument sterilization,
accurate film placement for obtaining x-rays.
Skills and Abilities
 Knowledge of dental procedures and use of dental instruments in preventive, operative, endodontic,
prosthetic and oral surgery, and ability to perform a full range of dental procedures as dictated by the
dentist.
 Interviewing skills in obtaining medical and dental histories and relevant information for diagnosis and
treatment of dental issues.
 Ability to evaluate and anticipate patient needs for triage and record medications as prescribed to patient
per dentist request.
 Ability to accurately record relevant information into patient records from scheduled appointments,
charting of dental history and treatment plans and follow clinic guidelines for posting completed
procedures.
 Ability to coordinate future treatment for patient appointments in accordance with lab schedules,
treatment financing, and office protocol.
 Knowledge and ability to accurately obtain radiographs per standard of patient care and understands
radiation safety procedures and protocols.
 Ability to educate patients as to the nature of dental issues and /or diseases, and provide instruction for
proper home-care post treatment.
 Knowledge and ability to perform infection control standards in the operatory before and after patient
treatment. Must follow OSHA guidelines and clinic procedure utilizing available products to manage areas
of treatment.
 Ability to process contaminated instruments and maintain infection control standards by following clinic
procedures and OSHA guidelines. Ability to manage sterilized instruments by dating, organizing and
proper placement into designated areas.
 Ability to prepare dental equipment for daily use, manage set up of sterilization area, re-stocking of
supplies in designated tray setup area or other areas as needed.
 Ability and willingness to coordinate a schedule to participate in maintaining/cleaning dental equipment
in assigned operatory and throughout clinic as indicated by office policy or dictated by manufacturer
instructions for maintenance. Will keep current log of equipment maintenance.
 Has knowledge of supplies held in inventory and assists in inventory management practices by informing
others of need to reorder dwindling supplies.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
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Work is performed in an interior medical/dental clinical environment.
Moderate physical activity. Requires handling average weight objects up to 25 pounds or standing and/or
walking for more than six (6) hours per day.
Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require
following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.
Will work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and will require OSHA training.
OSHA training
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Qualifications for Employment
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Pre-employment physical examination/medical history check.
HEP B vaccination record of completed series. MVCHS will provide the vaccination or candidate may
decline.
Current CPR certification.
May be required to submit to annual TB testing.
Fingerprinting for background investigation.
Drug testing – Initial and Random.
State of NM Board of Dental Health Licensure in Dental Radiography.
EMPLOYEE/SUPERVISORY REVIEW
I have read this job description and understand the requirements of the job and the work to be
performed. I agree to perform the duties and responsibilities described. I assert that I am able
to perform the essential job functions and meet the physical requirements of this position.
Furthermore, I understand this is not an employment contract.
____________________________________ ___________________
Employee Signature
Date
I have reviewed this job description with this employee, and agree that it is an accurate
description of the duties and responsibilities to be performed.
____________________________________ ___________________
Supervisor Signature
Date
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