Dental Assistant at Ottawa County – Holland, Michigan

Under the supervision of the Oral Health Team Supervisor, coordinates the office operations of the mobile dental services unit and provides paraprofessional dental assistant services to patients. Schedules on-site oral health clinics at K-12 schools, daycare and preschool centers, special education centers, migrant education centers and at other sites serving infants, children and youth. Collaborates with school administrators and staff of other agencies serving target populations to deliver dental care to underserved members of the community.

This position requires administrative duties in office as well, work location is at the James St. Campus in Holland, MI. The schedule will vary each week on the amount of time spent in office and on site.
The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Collaborates with public school districts, childcare centers, pre-schools, early childhood programs, special education centers and other community sites to establish the annual mobile unit calendar.
2. Assigns volunteer dentists and hygienists to specific dental clinics, consistent with their stated availability.
3. Collaborates with staff at each school/site to distribute health history, authorization to treat and eligibility verification forms to students in advance of mobile clinic site visits.
4. Prepares medical charts for patients at each site, reviews eligibility status, prepares daily clinic appointment schedules.
5. Stocks the mobile unit with all required instruments, equipment and operating supplies for each site visit.
6. Serves as dental assistant to dentists and hygienists, providing chairside assistance, sterilizing instruments, taking X-rays, and performing other tasks required for oral health assessments and treatment.
7. Evaluates dental examination results for each child and makes referrals for additional evaluation and services, as appropriate.
8. Contacts parents and schools to follow-up on referrals.
9. Explains dental examination results and importance of accessing additional evaluation and treatment services to parents.
10. Records mobile dental clinic patient and treatment data in oral health information management system and ensures that client case records are properly documented and that confidentiality of client information is maintained.
11. Codes and enters mobile dental clinic services data for Medicaid-eligible patients and bills Medicaid electronically.
12. Drives the mobile oral health unit to and from community clinic sites, ensures that unit receives scheduled preventive maintenance, and participates in the development of requests for proposals to refurbish or replace the unit when necessary.
13. Participates in the development of proposals to provide new and innovative services to underserved target populations through the mobile oral health unit.
14. Participates in campaigns and strategies to recruit new volunteer dentists, oral surgeons, and hygienists for the program.
15. Assists with dental billing.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

High school diploma or GED and completion of a recognized, accredited dental assisting training program and a recognized, accredited dental radiology training program, combined with three years of progressively responsible and demonstrably successful experience in dental assisting and office management; and successful completion of all required annual recertification training classes.

Licenses and Certifications:
Must possess and maintain valid State of Michigan radiology certification.

Must possess and maintain a Valid State of Michigan Class B Commercial Driver's License.
Ottawa County will provide training for Commercial Drivers License test and License.

**Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be considered. On-the-job training and certification may be available. Pay would be adjusted to be commensurate with qualifications.
Required Knowledge and Skills:

1. Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in dental assisting.
2. Knowledge of the terminology, materials, equipment and instruments used in dentistry.
3. Knowledge of dental radiograph techniques and principles.
4. Knowledge of public health practices and techniques and principles.
5. Knowledge of sterile procedure.
6. Thorough working knowledge of infection control principles, practices and protocols.
7. Good interpersonal and human relations skills and ability to work in a team environment.
8. Knowledge of the principles of early childhood education and their application in the prevention of oral disease.
9. Good working knowledge of the Michigan Public Health Code.
10. Thorough working knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements governing the confidentiality of patient health information, including the provisions of HIPAA.
11. Thorough working knowledge of medical ethical practice standards.
12. Computer literacy, including good user knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet and database management applications software and Internet search engines.
13. Knowledge of health care and other community resources available to client populations.
14. Good verbal and written communications skills.
15. Good interpersonal and human relations skills.
16. Ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
17. Ability to interact positively with patients and their families, co-workers, health care practitioners, community health partner staff, MDCH staff, community representatives, and members of the general public from widely diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with varying levels of interpersonal and communications skills.

Note: Individuals in this classification provide services to clients in a variety of locations throughout the County are responsible for providing their own transportation.

Physical Requirements:

1. Must have sufficient manual dexterity to operate radiology equipment and use dental instruments.
2. Must have sufficient visual acuity with or without corrective lenses to qualify for a Commercial Driver's License.
3. Must possess sufficient auditory acuity with or without audiological appliances to qualify for a Commercial Driver's License.
4. Must have sufficient strength and mobility to steer and control commercial vehicles.
5. Must be able to ascend to and descend from the cab of the mobile unit.
6. Must be able to transport, set up and tear down equipment weighing up to 25 lbs in order to stock and set up mobile oral health unit examination rooms.

Working Conditions:
Work is performed in schools, childcare centers, migrant education centers and other facilities throughout the county. Employee must frequently load and unload equipment from the mobile oral health unit and set-up and tear-down equipment.

Disclaimer:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.