Managing the Dental Team: Guidelines for Practice Success. American Dental Association

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

      • Accurately and appropriately record provided treatment

      • Teach proper oral hygiene techniques to patients

      • Counsel patients on oral health, including the role of nutrition

      • Perform other tasks assigned by the dentist

       Treatment Room Management and Sterilization

      • Check treatment room for cleanliness and make necessary changes

      • Check and turn on treatment room equipment

      • Gather and review patient charts for the day

      • Clean treatment room at the end of the day and turn off equipment

      • Maintain a supply inventory for hygiene treatment

      • Review, select and submit orders for patient education materials for the practice

      • Submit supply orders to business manager once a month or as necessary

      • Properly discard all disposable items from each visit

      • Assemble soiled instruments and place in sterilization area

      • Clean treatment room surfaces with disinfectant solution

      • Pre-soak soiled instruments in a disinfectant

      • Sort and package instruments by tray for proper sterilization

      • Load, activate and vent the sterilization unit according to manufacturer’s directions

      • Store instruments and trays in appropriate places

       Records Management

      • Securely store and handle patient records in compliance with office policies and procedures and applicable legal requirements, such as HIPAA regulations

      • Accurately record medical and dental histories

      • Accurately file patient information

      • Arrange patient charts

      • Assist in the administration of the recall system

       Office Participation

      • Be an active participant in team meetings

      • Promote team concept by interacting with others in the office

       PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

       Education/Experience

      • Must be licensed to practice in state and meet other applicable state requirements

      • Must have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary education from an accredited dental hygiene program

      • Experience providing prophylaxis and taking X-rays

       Interpersonal

      • Good interpersonal skills to maintain effective rapport with patients, dentists and coworkers

      • Effective verbal skills to communicate with patients and staff

SAMPLE POSITION DESCRIPTION

       Office Manager

      Reports to: _______________________________________________________________

       PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

      Responsible for administering the day-to-day activities of the business office, including: patient and employee relations; staff interviewing/dismissal; management of marketing and communications efforts; ensuring regulatory compliance; staff training and motivation. Assist the dentist with other tasks as assigned.

       SPECIFIC DUTIES

      • Manage day-to-day operations of dental office

      • Manage and direct staff assignments and activities, in accordance with office policies and applicable laws

      • Manage compliance with OSHA, state and federal regulations

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