Lead Registered Dental Assistant

Summary:

Registered Dental Assistant

The Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) is a key member of the dental care team. The RDA provides all functions of a dental assistant. An RDA may also perform additional functions, as described below, according to the requirements of the Dental Practice Act of California. The supervising, licensed dentist is responsible for determining whether each procedure performed by an RDA is under general or direct supervision and according to Borrego Health policy.

The RDA works under the direction and supervision of the Dental Manager. The RDA assists the dental provider and patient; providing compassionate quality care to the patients of Borrego Health, within the scope of practice as outlined by state and federal law.

Compensation:

$22.00 - $25.80 per hour

Lead Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

The Lead RDA’s responsibilities are an expansion of the existing RDA responsibilities.  The Lead RDA serves as a mentor for new RDAs and as a role model for existing RDAs.  Under the direction of the Dental Manager, the Lead RDA’s primary role is to exemplify leadership as an extension of the RDA responsibilities.  This is accomplished by aiding in the training and implementation of new initiatives, improving processes and maintaining excellent customer service (internal and external) at assigned locations, at all times.  The Lead RDA is responsible to complete timely staff training, observe and evaluate Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Assistants’ performance to determine progress, provide feedback, and suggestions for improvement at designated sites.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:    

Clinical Functions:

• Performs all duties that a Registered Dental Assistant is allowed to perform under the Dental Practice Act of California
• Responsible for effective and accurate patient intake to include but not limited to:

1. • Identifying patients
   • Taking vital signs
   • Identifying chief complaint
   • Reviewing medication history
   • Preparing patients for examinations for procedures including positioning and draping
   • Performing motivational interviewing techniques to help patients set self-management goals
   • Conducting patient education and oral hygiene instructions

• Follows established standards of documentation
• Demonstrates willingness to assist coworkers whenever needed; maintaining harmonious work relationships
• Attends and actively participates in all-staff meetings and mandatory webinars

• Reviews patient records/forms for accuracy and completion 
• Assists the provider in closing the visit/encounter to include but not limited to:

1. • Reviewing encounter summary with patient and provider
   • Handing out prescriptions
   • Providing patient education as needed

• Mouth-mirror inspections of the oral cavity including charting of obvious lesions, existing restorations and missing teeth
• Applies and activates bleaching agents using a non-laser light-curing device
• Uses automated caries detection devices and materials to gather information for diagnosis by the dentist
• Obtains intraoral images for computer-aided design milled restorations
• Tests pulp vitality and records findings
• Places bases, liners, and bonding agents
• Chemically prepares teeth for bonding
• Places, adjusts and finishes direct provisional restorations
• Fabricates, adjusts, cements and removes indirect provisional restorations, including stainless steel crowns when used as a provisional restoration
• Places post-extraction dressings after inspection of the surgical site by the supervising licensed dentist
• Places periodontal dressings
• Dries endodontically treated canals using absorbent paper points
• Adjusts dentures extra-orally
• Removes excess cement from surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument
• Polishes coronal surfaces of the teeth
• Places ligature ties and arch-wires
• Removes orthodontic bands
• Other responsibilities as assigned

The following duties may only be performed by an RDA if he/she has completed a California Dental Board-approved RDA educational program in those duties or he/she has provided evidence to the Board of having completed a Board-approved course in those duties.

1. Allowable duties of a dental sedation assistant permit holder
2. Allowable duties of an orthodontic assistant permit holder
3. Application of pit and fissure sealants (only upon completion of a Dental Board approved course in the application of pit and fissure sealants
4. Removes excess cement with an ultrasonic scaler from supragingival surfaces of teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment

General Responsibilities:  

1. Completes electronic and/or paper chart entries as assigned
2. Ensures that patient charts are available to the dentist prior to each patient being seated, including provision of a paper chart or pulling up an electronic chart
3. Explains procedures to patients
4. Passes instruments to the dentist during 4-handed procedures
5. For work on mobile dental units, manages start-up functions including turning on generators, securing steps and railings, checking water levels, setting thermostat, checking and completing logs and related activities
6. For non-mobile units, fills chemicals, as needed, fills water bottles and adds water treatment tablets, flushes water lines, ensures sanitation areas are clean and organized throughout the day, logs and dates all instrument sterilization cycles, writes date of  sterilization on all bagged instruments, conducts inventory, receives and orders supplies, cleans operatories between patients
7. Instructs patients on post-operative care and oral hygiene

Lead RDA - Brick and mortar:

• Oversees, directs and maintains daily clinic workflow
• Dedicates 10 administrative/non-clinic hours per work to fulfill responsibilities
• Ensures smooth flow of communication between front office, back office and provider
• Monitors schedule – alerts management of staffing needs
• Monitors team punctuality and attendance – alerts management to issues
• Ensures maintenance of on-site Human Resources employee compliance documents
• Participates in weekly Lead RDA meetings with management
• Ensures an inclusive and supportive working environment
• Aids and supports with conflict resolution regarding staff, providers and patients
• Coordinates and leads daily huddles

• • Drafts meeting agendas
  • Keeps minutes
  • Reports weekly at Lead RDA meetings with management

• Assists management in incident reporting
• Capable of drafting professional emails and texts (proper grammar and sentence structure)
• Capable of giving directions
• Leads by example
• Contributes to establishing and maintaining open and supportive work environment
• Promotes a team environment
• Promotes a culture of excellent customer service by displaying the Borrego Health Standards of Customer Service behavior
• Mentors new RDAs
• Instructs trainees in the importance of accuracy, neatness, efficiency, resourcefulness and good work habits
• Provides training to existing staff on new initiatives
• Process improvement champions and change agents
  • Assists Dental Manager/Manager of Operations and Productivity in evaluating competencies; monitoring successful implementation; gathering and giving feedback on process improvements
  • Assists in the testing process of new initiatives (pilot/PDSA studies); collecting results and reporting findings
• Maintains excellent proficiency in electronic health records
• Utilizes different methods of teaching to cover diverse learning styles
• Assists in coordinating annual Steri-cycle training
• Ensures placement of Henry Schein orders
• Ensures placement of  pharmacy and special orders
• Ensures proper disposal of  expired medication
• Coordinates and performs waterline testing
• Assists in scheduling/coordinating/reporting needed repairs, calibrations and Physicists surveys
• Seeks repair approvals from management  - as needed

• • Calls Rivera Dental (Kyle), Schein or Patterson to schedule repairs
  • Sends hand pieces to Schein Pro Repair                                         

• Ensures maintenance and organization of clinic
• Prepares and coordinates for external audits
• Assists in performing  quarterly internal audits – report’s findings to management
• Ensures log book maintenance
• Ensures/performs monthly Instadose (x-ray badge reading)
• Ensures maintenance of hand piece inventory

• • Ensures maintenance  inventory of dental supply inventory – Places  orders

• Assists management in organizing and coordinating dental screenings and special events
• Ensures OSHA/HIPA protocol are followed by staff
• Ensures performance of weekly spore testing
• Ensures disposal of and security of biohazard materials
• Ensure security of lab cases
• Ensures completion and submission of patient satisfaction surveys – reports monthly to management
• Other responsibilities as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Graduate of high school or has a GED certificate
2. California Registered Dental Assistant license
3. Graduate of an educational program in Registered Dental Assisting approved by the California Dental Board and satisfactory performance on a written and practical examination administered by the California Dental Board,   OR
4. Evidence of at least 15 months as a Dental Assistant in California or another state and satisfactory performance on a written and practical examination administered by the California Dental Board. “Satisfactory work experience” means the performance of duties specified by the Board in Section 1750.1 of the California Business and Professions Code, and certified by an employing dentist
5. A minimum of 2 years RDA work experience
6. Provision of having successfully completed Board-approved courses in radiation safety and coronal polishing
7. Completion of a California Dental Board approved course in the application of pit and fissure sealants prior to the first expiration of his/her license that requires completion of continuing education as a condition of renewal
8. For individuals applying for RDA licensure after 1/1/10, must demonstrate satisfactory performance on a written examination in law and ethics administered by the California Dental Board and must provide written evidence of successful completion, within 5 years of application, of:

1. 1. A Board-approved course in the Dental Practice Act
   2. A Board-approved course in infection control
   3. All staff that is presently working within a clinic is required to have a Current and Valid CPR and First Aide certification on file with the Human Resources Department. This is for clinical and administrative staff. This new license requirement is mandatory for continued employment, CPR and First Aide certification must be obtained through the American Heart Association. Internet certificates do not comply and for this reason are not valid.

9. Knowledge of how to take vital signs

Special Conditions of Employment: 

1. Mandatory requirement – current and valid CPR and First Aide certification (American Heart Association) on file with the Human Resources department.
     Internet certificates do not comply and for this reason are not valid.
2. Strongly prefer completion of a California Dental Board-approved course in pit and fissure sealants prior to employment. Association. Internet certificates do not comply and for this reason are not valid.