Orthodontic Assistant - Private Practice

Job Summary:
Responsible for assisting the orthodontist in the delivery of patient care and support duties.

Responsibilities:
· Clinical Assisting
· Delivery of Patient Care
· Taking and X-rays
· Treatment Documentation
· Sterilization Procedures
· Patient Education and Motivation
· Practice Promotion
· Laboratory Duties
· Miscellaneous Duties
Clinical Duties
Prepare and maintain dental instruments, supplies and equipment
Preparation of dental materials and appointment procedural setups
Greet and seat patients
Evaluate patient oral hygiene and cooperation
Collect and record patient health histories
Take dental records, including x-rays, impressions, digital scans, and print images/photographs
Take bite registrations
Prepare teeth for bonding
Assist the doctor with bonding
Place and remove separators
Fit bands
Initial seating of appliances
Assist cementing bands and banded appliances
Check for loose bands and brackets at every appointment
Remove, size, and place archwires
Remove bands and brackets
Remove banding cement
Remove bonding adhesive with a hand instrument
Accurately record procedures and treatment notes in patient treatment card
Provide patient instructions and communication
Dental Infection Control
Follow the dental office infection control plan to comply with OSHA, CDC, and local standards
Clean, sterilization/disinfection, and re-circulate instruments
Disinfect treatment area and units
Patient Management
Deliver patient personal oral care, appliance and elastic instructions
Encourage, educate and motivate patients to follow doctor’s recommendations
Educate parents and patients on treatment progress
Practice Promotion
Implement approaches to attract a constant flow of new patients and to maximize referrals
Maintain good relationships with referring dentists and other professionals in the community
Support friends and family of current patients who could benefit from orthodontics to make an exam appointment
Laboratory Procedures
Pour impressions to make stone and plaster models
Trim Models
Fabricate clear retainers and bleaching trays
Miscellaneous Procedures
· Inventory management
· Equipment/instrumentation management
· Preparation of oral hygiene/deband kits, brackets, etc.
· Organization, cleaning, and stocking drawers/cabinets and work areas
· Maintenance of sterilization area, solutions and equipment
· OSHA management
· Practice promotion such as: design and implementation of patient contents, deliver community dental health presentations
· Study model management
· Indirect bonding preparation and other laboratory duties
· Organize progress reviews for all patient’s mid-treatment. Take pan.
· Coordinate, publicize, and follow through on patient contests.
· Organize the gift given to patients on their deband date.
· At deband visit, have patient sign thank you card to parents.
· At the doctor’s request, send patient records for consultation with oral surgeon or other specialists. Arrange appointments with any specialists needed. Send extraction/disking requests as well as requests for panos, etc.
· Monitor and track emergency appointments.
· Care calls daily (commenting on something discussed during treatment or on the treatment performed.)
· Be certain cooperation letters, deband letters, etc. are posted and sent when appropriate
· Be responsible for cleanliness of the clinical area
· Be an active participant in staff meetings and committee meetings
· Perform other tasks as assigned by the doctor
· Work cohesively with fellow team members to provide an atmosphere of trust, mutual respect, and cooperation
Education / Experience:
X-ray certification
State licensure (if applicable)
COA from the Dental Assisting National Board
CPR certificate
Skills / Abilities:
Clinical: Proficiency in all clinical skills
Interpersonal: Good interpersonal skills to maintain smooth running team environment throughout the office
Verbal Skills: Effective verbal skills to communicate to Doctor, referring dentists, parents, and patients
Computer Skills: Proficiency in electronic treatment card and Microsoft Word. Computer entry, patient tracking, imaging.

Problem Solving: Effective conflict resolution, problem identification, problem resolution, and decision-making skills
Physical Attributes of Job:
Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds
Must be able to hear staff on the phone and those who are served in-person, and speak clearly in order to communicate information to clients and staff
Must have normal vision or use of glasses/corrective lenses to bring vision to normal
Must have high manual dexterity
Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to reach, must be able to bend, squat and sit, stand, stoop, reach, kneeling, twist/turn
Pay: $16.50 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
401(k)
401(k) matching
Employee discount
On-the-job training
Paid time off
Work Location: In person