Hygiene Assistant

Job Purpose: Dental assistants greatly increase the efficiency of the dentist in the delivery of quality oral health care and are valuable members of the dental care team.

Duties and responsibilities

• Assisting the hygienist during a hygiene treatment
• Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
• Preparing examination rooms by sterilizing instruments and moving equipment into place
• Preventing the spread of infection and disease by maintaining a surgically clean work environment
• Helping patients feel comfortable before, during and after dental treatment
• Providing patients with instructions for oral care following treatment
• Teaching patient’s appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling)
• Create, send and track lab cases
• Monitor, order and maintain budget for dental supplies
• Performing office management tasks that often require the use of a personal computer
• Assisting in updating and maintaining client dental records / charts
• Maintaining equipment and coordinating any necessary repairs
• Asking about the patient's medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse as needed
• Providing support to dentists and other staff as needed
• Maintaining OSHA and HIPAA compliance
• Performs other job duties as assigned

Education:
High school diploma or equivalent required

License/Certification:

Sterilization techs are not required to carry any license or certification but Enhance Dental will provide on-the-job training for sterile techs to get their dental assisting license and necessary expanded functions.

Working conditions
Dental practices run at a fast pace and dental assistants will be required to keep up with the flow
of doctors and patients.

Physical requirements
Dental Assistants will be required to:
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
Repeat the same movements.
Bend or twist their body.
Sit for long periods.
Stand for long periods.
Lifting up to 50 pounds

Reports to ADO / Office Manager

Direct reports
None.