Senior Dental Assistant: Orthodontics

Job Description
The School of Dentistry Orthodontics Residency Clinic is seeking a Senior Dental Assistant to serve the needs of residents, patients and their families, the residency director, attending faculty, and other staff. This position is essential to our core instructional and service missions. The Orthodontic Residency Clinic has approximately 250 patient visits per week. This Senior Dental Assistant communicates with patients and their parents/guardians regarding treatment, actively assists the residents and attending faculty with direct patient care. Additional responsibilities include maintaining clinical supplies and equipment, coordinating with company representatives for donated and purchased supplies, assembling, and maintaining the Material Safety Data book, coordinating with the Residency Director regarding out-going external orthodontic laboratory prescriptions, appliances, and fee charges as well as performing other duties as assigned by the Office Manager/Residency Coordinator and Residency Director. Experience in digital dentistry including intraoral scanning, using digital software, and 3D printing are highly desired.

The Senior Dental Assistant must exercise good judgement based on previous experience, practices, and precedents to identify and solve problems that arise in the Residency Clinic in consultation with the Residency Director, Office Manager/Residency Coordinator and Departmental attending faculty.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

- Prepare dental treatment areas through disinfection and sterilization
- Prepare, sterilize, disinfect, and maintain dental instruments, supplies and equipment
- Greeting and seating patients as they arrive
- Actively prepare and assist resident and attending faculty with all facets of screenings, consults, and orthodontic treatment visits
- Keep the patient's mouth clean and dry during procedures
- Assist with obtaining needed x-rays (including but not limited to panoramic, cephalometric and periapical)
- Instruct patients on proper dental hygiene
- Assist in delegated charting within the electronic health record
- Maintain proper inventory of supplies stocked at all times
Answering questions or directing the appropriate questions to the residents and attending faculty
Maintaining the highest standards regarding patient safety, privacy and OHSA protocols
Assist with digital workflow including coordinating 3D printing, maintaining printers, and maintaining printer supplies
Work as part of a staff team and interact well with other staff team members including Dental Assistants, Office Manager/Residency Coordinator, Receptionist, Patient Coordinator

Shift
Typical office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. (40 hours / week)

Minimum Qualifications
A high school diploma or equivalent and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired is necessary.
Certifications as required by state/federal law or regulatory agencies is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications
Preference given to Expended Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) with Orthodontics permit
Previous experience with coordinating treatment with clinical residents and preparing them to work effectively with a dental assistant
Excellent customer service and communication skills

Anticipated Hiring Range
Up to $23.00 an hour commensurate with education, experience, and internal equity.

Benefit Eligibility
This position is eligible for University benefits.

As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:

Health Programs – including medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance
Retirement Plan (8% match)
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Paid Holidays
Paid Parental and Caregiver Leave
Disability and Life Insurance
Tuition Assistance (75% reduction)
Employee Assistance Program
Wellness Programs
For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.