Position Summary

The Ortho Registered Dental Assistant performs a variety of dental assisting duties while promoting a safe and cleanly environment for quality dental care.  These duties include, but are not limited to, assisting the doctor; teaching the patients how to care for their teeth; communicating effectively with patients (or parents if patient is a child); maintaining equipment and inventory; cleaning, sterilizing, and packaging instruments; and following universal precautions, OSHA requirements, and dental board auxiliaries’ regulations.

Essential duties/Responsibilities 

• Provide oral hygiene education to patient and family
• Perform certain authorized procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist; such procedures shall be checked and approved by the supervising dentist.
• Accurately and completely document patient care activities in the chart as directed by the doctor and Company policy

• Take x-rays as prescribed by the doctor
• Clean the film processor; replace developer & fixer on a weekly basis. 
• Clean and sanitize the "Dark Room" and “x-ray room" (walls, floor, ceiling, etc.) and report problems to floor supervisor

• Prepare operatories for various procedures
• Prepare trays for various procedures
• Ensure that operatories are stocked and cleaned at all times
• Check for patients’ signatures on the Health Questionnaire and Informed Consent Form 
• Explain treatment plans to patients as needed
• Escort patients to front office area for patient dismissal when treatment is completed, and inform the receptionist when and for what their next visit must be scheduled
• Apply all-wrap in and around operatories where needed
• Clean, sterilize, and package dental instruments 
• Prepare lab cases
• Assist Floor Supervisor in ordering supplies and instruments 
• Clean and maintain all equipment in accordance with the maintenance guidelines
• Turn off all equipment nightly, including the vacuum, compressor, etc. 
• Ensure that handpieces are properly cleaned and oiled
• Review the Hazard Communication book and sign the training log
• Ensure that hazardous products are properly labeled
• Follow waste disposal procedures for Sharps and for contaminated material/chemicals.
• Compliance with state and Federal infection control standards in the dental office and operatories, including but not limited to: wearing protective barriers such as gloves, scrubs, and eye wear; disinfecting and sterilizing instruments and treatment areas; and disposing properly of contaminated or bio-hazardous waste/materials.

Other duties and Requirements

• Follow-up with lab and maintain log on partials and remakes.
• Check next day appointment schedule for all lab cases and verify that they are ready, if not, see that the patient is rescheduled
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and team huddles
• Other duties as assigned by the Office Manager, Regional Manager, and/or Dentists

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Valid California Registered Dental Assistant license and RDA certification required
• Current X-Ray License
• CPR and First-Aid certification required
• Minimum of one year of recent experience as a Registered Dental Assistant preferred
• Bilingual: English & Spanish required (if the geographic location of the office does not require the applicant to be bilingual, applicants who only speak English may be considered)
• Ability to obtain an NPI
• Strong written and verbal communication skills  

• Ability to work with people of all ages (i.e. Children)

• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment and able to multitask 

• Ability to maintain outgoing, friendly attitude with patients and coworkers
• Ability to work with interruptions and to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work with minimal supervision
• Ability to be organized

Technological Skills

• Autoclave/Chemiclave
• Ultrasonic
• X-Ray Machine
• Intra-oral Camera
• O2 and N2O
• Handpieces
• Digital X-rays

Work Schedule

The Registered Dental Assistant will be notified of the work schedule on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.  The Registered Dental Assistant’s schedule is subject to change (daily/weekly hours may increase or decrease) according to the needs of the practice.  Evening and weekend hours may be required.  This position is paid on an hourly basis.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, and walk; talk, hear, and smell; and use hands, fingers, and wrists (manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination) to handle or feel the mouth/teeth and gums of patients, as well as objects, tools, or controls associated with the dental field.   The employee is frequently/occasionally required to reach; lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; and balance, stoop, bend, squat, kneel, crawl, climb, twist, pull, and crouch.  The essential functions of this position will result in the following: hazardous exposure (chemical and infections)—constantly; non ionizing radiation (welding flash, microwaves, sun, etc.)—frequently; radiation (x-ray, radioactive, isotopes, etc.)—constantly; noise (loud/repetitive, 85 decibels per OSHA standard)—constantly; and personal protective equipment (PPE: respiratory masks, latex gloves, face shields, etc.)—constantly.

Work Conditions and Risk

General Dental Office conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The dental office environment may result in employees being exposed to toxic chemicals, radiation, infectious bodily fluids and materials, and increased noise level. This position assumes high risk. 

Independent Action

Under the general supervision of the Office Manager, regular duties performed by the Registered Dental Assistant may require occasional independent judgment.  The Registered Dental Assistant must consult with her/his supervisor regarding patient problems or confrontation, policy issues, expenditures, and unusual problems.

Registered Dental Assistants are not to perform expanded functions, which are not permissible by the Dental Practice Act, even if asked to do so by the doctor.  If a Registered Dental Assistant is asked by the doctor to perform functions for which she/he is not permitted by the Dental Practice Act, she/he must inform the Floor Supervisor, Office Manager, Managing Doctor, or the Regional Manager as soon as possible.  (See Policy on “Expanded Functions”)  Registered Dental Assistants are not to diagnose patients.  This is the doctor's responsibility.  Employees found doing so will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, termination.

Limitations and Disclaimer

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, and physical demands required for the position.

This job description is subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by anyone occupying this position. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with State and Federal laws.

The job requirement represents the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Traveling Ortho RDA