4E02
DENTAL ASSISTANT

This is dental assistant work performing facilitating tasks for higher level dental auxiliary personnel and dentists such as caring for, maintaining, and preparing dental materials and instruments. Employees in this class maintain records of dental treatment, set up dental appointments and assist dental auxiliary personnel and dentists who give dental treatments in a district health center or satellite facility.

Work is performed under the close supervision of a higher level dental auxiliary or a professional dentist. Some physical effort is involved in the performance of duties.

• Positions in this class must be located in one of the City's District Health Clinics.
• Positions in this class must assist a Dentist or other higher level auxiliary personnel.
• Positions in this class must work at multiple health centers and on varying shifts as assigned based on health center needs.

Arranges on dental tray basic materials and instruments for dental treatments; hands materials and instruments to dentist as he is performing dental work; prepares dental materials such as cements and fillings; cleans, sterilizes and maintains all instruments and equipment used in the dental clinic; may visit patient's home with dentist to assist in dental treatment.

May schedule appointments, answer phone, process billing information as required.

Takes, develops, duplicates and mounts dental X-ray films.

Records patient's dental evaluation, treatment plan, and treatment as indicated by dentist; prepares daily work record of dentist; arranges appointments with patients, their parents or through school nurses.

Maintains an inventory of supplies; prepares requisitions for needed supplies.

Instructs children and adults in the health center, at schools and in the community on proper dental care and oral hygiene.

Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• dental nomenclature
• the types and uses of dental instruments and the preparation and use of dental materials
• non-professional dental procedures and techniques such as the sterilization and care of instruments, and taking and developing of X-rays
• general office procedures and standard clerical operations as they apply to a dental clinic
ABILITY TO:
• carry out proper procedures, practices and manners in assisting a dentist while giving treatment
• prepare dental materials such as cements and fillings
• maintain required records and charts
• understand and follow oral and written instructions
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and patients

EDUCATION

Education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth school grade.

AND
GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

Six months of experience preparing dental materials and instruments for dental treatment, which has included on-the-job training in dental facilitating tasks.

OR


Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources.

Note:Successful completion of a post high school training program in dental assistant procedures and techniques may be substituted for required experience on a month for month basis. Completion of 300 hours of chair-side experience as part of a training program may be substituted for the full experience requirement.

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

Possession of a Pennsylvania State certification of passing the Radiologic Procedures examination prior to appointment.