Durham County Government employs approximately 1,900 employees that work towards providing needed services throughout the community. With a wide array of services, Durham County Government is at the heart of a rapidly growing and diverse area offering residents, employees and visitors exciting opportunities to live, work, grow and play.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The duties of a dental assistant are among the most comprehensive and varied in the dental office. The dental assistant performs many tasks requiring both interpersonal and technical skills. The purpose of this job is to render technical assistance to dentists, residents, and dental students in the care of patients. This work may be performed in such facilities as a dental clinic, mobile dental unit, and community-based settings. Patient care duties are usually performed in the physical presence of a dentist or resident. The position communicates with the patient before, during, and after the appointment and provides treatment instruction to patient's parent or caretaker. Other procedures are performed using established protocols and office routines.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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  Provides patient history to dentist and passes instruments to dentist during procedures.
• Explains procedures and provides patient support, instructing patient, family, and/or health care staff on basic oral hygiene.
• Monitors the patient's behavior and vital signs upon request from the provider.
• Inventories, receives, checks, and stocks supplies and equipment.
• Cleans and sterilizes equipment, ensuring all items are in operable condition.
• Prepares and arranges instrument trays for clinic use.
• Mixes impression and filling material and places sealants.
• Operates oral evacuation equipment, retractors, and water and air sprays.
• Assembles and places rubber dams.
• Performs cleanings, coronal polishing, and x-rays.
• May maintain records and recall system, answer phones, and type records and correspondence.
• Performs related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

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  Considerable knowledge of dental equipment, instruments, and procedures
• Considerable knowledge of dental office business procedures
• Considerable knowledge of preparation methods and dental materials
• Ability to maintain records, inventories, and patient histories
• Ability to deal tactfully with patients
• Ability to observe, evaluate, and report required information pertaining to a dental or dental assistant student
• Ability to orient dental and dental assistant students, other health care personnel, and patients

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Completion of a dental assistant program from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of on-the-job training as a dental assistant and required x-ray training when needed; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Durham County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer