Set up treatment rooms for procedures
• Escort patients to treatment room
• Seat patients in treatment rooms
• Show care and concern, and help patients feel comfortable
• Obtain and review health histories according to office protocol
• Ensure patients are always attended
• Anticipate and assist dentist’s needs
• Perform expanded functions and other tasks as assigned by the dentist
• Mix dental materials
• Ensure patients’ questions are answered thoroughly before they leave
• Chart patients and record date, service rendered and any charges
• Escort patients from the treatment room
• Ensure proper treatment notes are recorded in patient’s chart
• Perform clinical procedures as practice act allows and as directed by dentist
• Give patient instruction and demonstrate when necessary
• Monitor patient flow
• Notify Treatment Coordinator if a patient should be called in the evening after a difficult appointment
Treatment Room Management and Sterilization
• Keep dental units ready, stocked and clean
• Oversee cleanliness of the treatment room according to sterilization procedures
• Disinfect treatment rooms according to OSHA regulations
• Sterilize all instruments and handpieces according to OSHA regulations
• Keep trays, instruments and treatment room drawers organized
• Ensure that office sterilization procedures document is on display
• Promptly send out and monitor all dental laboratory cases
• Implement the preventative maintenance/cleaning schedule for dental equipment
• Maintain dental office emergency kits and nitrous and oxygen tanks
• Follow laboratory procedures according to office protocol
Records Management
• Securely store and handle patient records in compliance with state and federal requirements, including the HIPAA privacy and security regulations
• Accurately file patient information
• Arrange patient charts and radiographs for next day’s appointments
• Track cases and referrals to and from other doctors
• Assist in the administration of the recall system
Inventory Management
• Monitor inventory and order dental office supplies as needed
• Ensure that treatment rooms are stocked at all times
Office Participation
• Help in other areas of the office when necessary (i.e., answering phones, unpacking supplies, completing insurance forms, moving former patient records, etc.)
• Be an active participant in team meetings
• Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office
PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS
Education/Experience
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Graduate of accredited dental assisting program or dental assisting experience preferred
• Coursework in dental instruments and procedures
• Compliance with state dental practice requirements (e.g., x-ray requirements, OSHA training)
• Computer skills [list computer skills required and any specific dental software]
• Commitment to CE for career development
Interpersonal
• Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists, other staff members and community
• Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff
SAMPLE POSITION DESCRIPTION
Dental Hygienist
Reports to: _______________________________________________________________
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsible for providing hygiene treatment to patients
SPECIFIC DUTIES
Patient Management
• Review daily schedule with the administrative assistant for hygiene patients
• Work with administrative assistant to scahedule hygiene patients with efficiency
• Review patient health and dental history forms and update as necessary
• Accurately chart each patient’s periodontal health
• Perform thorough and gentle prophylaxis for patients
• Perform scaling, root planing and selective polishing for patients as appropriate
• Polish restorations
• Administer local anesthetics, if allowed by dental practice act
• Place medicaments subgingivally for periodontal disease treatment
• Take radiographs of patients as prescribed by dentist
• Apply cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and sealants
• Communicate with patients in an understandable and professional way
• Check on patient comfort during treatment and help allay patient anxiety
