The Dental Assistant supports the dentists in all aspects of patient care. This includes getting the appropriate instruments ready, take notes from dentists’ dictation for records, charting during examinations, preparing and mixing materials, providing support to patients during treatment, ensuring patient comfort and once the patient has left, the dental nurse tidies the surgery and sterilizes all of the instruments.
In general practice, the dental assistant may be required to assists the reception staff for patient appointments, dental related paperwork, and dental insurance, meeting, reassuring and educating patients
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITES
- Exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports.
- Actively participate in the Medical Center’s on-going Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Programs and other In-Service Training Programs.
- Act as a translator if needed
- Perform other duties and tasks assigned by the Head of Department scope of job.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
- To accomplish high quality dental nursing whilst assisting the dentists s/he has been appointed with, in a safe and effective manner in accordance with the ‘Code of Ethics’. The performance of these duties is under the reasonable directions DOH guidelines, updated from time to time as appropriate.
- To perform all reasonable efforts to establish patient privacy and safety, ensuring that they are comfortable and relaxed during dental consultation, treatment and procedures.
- To establish patient rapport, provide reassurance and perform measures to lessen patient anxiety if applicable by educating the patient, answering patient questions on general dental procedures and dental insurance.
- To ensure safe disposal of sharps and clinical waste.
- To establish and maintain productive working relationships with all members of the dental team.
- To ensure that the surgical areas and equipment are regularly cleaned, sterilized, organized and maintained, including aspiration systems and autoclaves, paying all due attention to relevant legal and ethical codes, in addition to the practice policy in respect of cross Infection Control and Health & Safety measures established by the Department of Health.
- To keep complete and accurate patient dental records, correctly take and collate dental examination resources such as Intra Oral Peri-apical X-Rays, Orthopantomogram (OPG), Cephalo-metric X-Rays, laboratory results, etc, taking in regard that the recording methods used are in line with agreed Practice Policy and current DOH dental guidelines.
- To assist the Dentist to obtain written consent and/or signature from patient and/or their consent giver/s before performing dental procedures.
- To execute proper workflow on assigned Nursing tasks such as handling General Anesthesia cases, preparing dental reports, etc.
- To ensure the proper dental materials, equipment and consumables are well maintained, available and in good working condition. Inventory as well as ordering conducted as per the set materials ordering policy. Report equipment failures or breakages to the Dental Nurse Supervisor so that prompt action may be taken to remedy any defects.
- To maintain and increase competence in dental nursing skills by attending dental CMEs and getting involved in dental research studies.
- To liaise with the Department Assistant and/or Dental Nurse Supervisor on all matters concerning administration and service concerns and conditions.
- To assist at reception and perform other clerical duties if required.
- Participation in the organization’s quality improvement and safety activities.
OCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT:
- Attending Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) programs as a mandatory requirement.
- Being compliant with all OSH policies & procedures and legal requirements regarding Occupational Safety and Health Management System.
- Conducting his/her task in a healthy and safe manner at all times.
- Reporting any untoward events that will impact the occupational, safety & health of patients, staff, contractors, facilities, operations, etc.
- Comply with the established OHSMS procedures of which they have been informed, instructed and trained.
- Actively participate along with line management towards implementation of OHSMS requirements.
- Report to the respective manager any potentially hazard, unsafe act or condition, which may cause OSH impacts.
- Report all OSH hazard, near miss and incidents to the respective line manager.
INFECTION CONTROL:
All employees are personally accountable for their actions and are responsible for ensuring that they comply with infection prevention and control policies.
Health care workers are responsible for identifying infectious conditions that require specific controls to protect themselves and their patients. In addition, they are responsible for notifying the infection prevention
EDUCATION- Minimum Bachelor’s Degree as Dental Nurse / Dental Assistant / Nursing.
LANGUAGE SKILLS English (Compulsory)/ Arabic (Optional)
SKILLS-
- Technically competent
- Focused
- Problem solver
- Good patience level
COMPETENCY
- Exceptional knowledge about dental terms and skills on dental procedures.
- Knowledge on the latest technology in the dental field.
- Knowledge on dental insurance policies and coverage.
- Fluency in English language is essential, Arabic a plus.
- Computer knowledge is required.
- Communicating effectively and demonstrating professionalism and respect with co-workers, superiors and general public.
- Must be willing and able to work within multi-cultural team.
- Must be able to communicate effectively.
- Ability to maintain confidential work environment.
- Ability to perform dental procedures as per standard set by regulating body
OTHER: LICENSURE/REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
- Valid DOH Dental Assistant License
- Currently licensed in country of origin.