Description/Job Summary

The Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (Dental Asst. II/EFDA) at Health Annex supports dental care delivery by performing standard dental assistant duties as well as performing expanded function procedures in compliance with the Pennsylvania State Dental Practice Act. Delivering high quality support services that result in strong consumer satisfaction; and that help maintain the fiscal and operational capacity of the Dental department.

Team members are expected uphold the health center mission by assuring that patients receive health care that is competent, caring, and meets with a high degree of satisfaction. In addition, staff must support FPCN's commitment to the creation of a trauma-informed system of care that continually recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic stress on all those who have contact with the organization, including children, adults, families, caregivers, and staff.

Responsibilities/Duties

• Performing all Dental Assistant duties
• Placing and removing matrices, wedges and rubber dams.
• Applying cavity liners and bases and provisional restorations
• Placing, carving, contouring, and condensing amalgam restorations.
• Placing and finishing composite resin restorations or sealant materials
• Fabricating and placing provisional resin crowns and bridges
• Performing coronal polishing and fluoride treatments, including fluoride varnish
• Taking impressions of teeth for study models, diagnostic casts or athletic appliances
• Removal of sutures and post- surgical patient management
• Adjustment of Removable appliances and provisional restorations
• Preparing treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols
• Preparing patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and draping patient
• Providing information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests
• Providing instrumentation by sterilizing, organizing and delivering instruments to treatment area
• Positioning instruments for dentist's access; suctioning; passing instruments instruments
• Providing materials by selecting, mixing, and placing materials on instruments for the dentist.
• Providing diagnostic information by exposing and developing radiographic studies; pouring, trimming, and polishing study casts
• Helping dentist manage dental and medical emergencies by maintaining CPR certification, emergency drug and oxygen supply,
• Educating patients by giving oral hygiene, plaque control, and postoperative instructions
• Maintaining patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential
• Maintaining safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations
• Protecting patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols
• Conserving dental resources by using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results
• Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies
• Actively participating in reflective supervision
• Expanded function dental assistants shall perform under the direct supervision of a dentist. Direct supervision means that a dentist is in the dental office or treatment facility, personally diagnoses the condition to be treated, personally authorizes the procedure and remains in the dental office or treatment facility while the procedure is being performed by the expanded function dental assistant, and, before dismissal of the patient, personally evaluates the work performed by the expanded function dental assistant.
• Contributing to team effort to assure the smooth and efficient day to day function of the dental office to include effective inventory control and organization, management of the expiration dates of chemicals and materials, smooth flow of back office dental assistant coverage to assure maximum patient flow through the clinic, assure maximum organization and cleanliness of the site.
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Required Experience

• 2 years of experience as a dental assistant performing expanded function duties preferred, but open to recent graduates, as well

Required Education

• High school diploma/GED required
• Must have graduated from an accredited Expanded Function Dental Assisting program

Required Qualifications

• Must have Expanded Functions Dental Assistant certification for the state of Pennsylvania
• Must have x-ray certification for the state of Pennsylvania
• Competence navigating electronic health records (EHR) such as Visdental
• Ability to work with digital x ray systems
• Ability to be a team player with excellent attitude and extremely patient friendly
• Exhibition of behaviors that align with RHD/FPCN's organizational values, mission, and beliefs and avoid displaying behaviors that are in opposition to those values
• Ability to support FPCN's commitment to the creation of a trauma-informed system of care that continually recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic stress on all those who have contact with the organization, including children, adults, families, caregivers, and staff
• Demonstration of cultural competence/proficiency in interactions with others by treating co-workers, colleagues and those receiving service with respect and fairness at all times
• Ability to build and maintain positive and professional relationships based on respect, trust, and safety
• Ability to create a space for staff and those we serve to feel physically and emotionally safe
• Ability to support individuals on their paths to recovery and healing and resist re-traumatization of staff and patients
• Demonstrate exemplary problem-solving, communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills
• Ability to work effectively as a team member
• Highly responsible and reliable as well as courteous
• Unconditional ability to maintain patient confidentiality
• Exemplary organizational skills and ability to prioritize

Program Summary

Family Practice and Counseling Network, a program of Resources for Human Development, is a network of community health centers providing comprehensive primary care, dental and behavioral health services. The Network consists of four health centers in Philadelphia - Abbottsford-Falls Family Practice & Counseling in the Northwest, the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services of Drexel University in the North, the Health Annex in the Southwest, and Annex West Health Center in West Philly housed in Action Wellness building (formerly Action AIDS). Today the Network serves more than 20,000 patients annually and is an NCQA certified Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by HRSA as a National Quality Leader for Behavioral Health.

The Network's mission is to provide person-centered, integrated and comprehensive health services to individuals and families across their lifespan. The Network promotes resiliency and well-being among patients, staff and surrounding communities. Network services are targeted to the surrounding communities and the advisory committee that guides services primarily consists of people from the communities served.

RHD employees and programs in the City of Philadelphia are required to follow the COVID vaccine mandate. The City of Philadelphia has issued an Emergency Regulation Governing the Control and Prevention of COVID-19 Mandating Vaccines for Healthcare Workers and In Higher Education, Healthcare, and Related Settings ("Vaccine Mandate Regulation"), which mandates vaccine for healthcare workers and in higher education, healthcare, and related settings. This mandate became Effective on August 16, 2021 and requires Healthcare Workers and certain workers at Healthcare Institutions to be fully vaccinated by October 22, 2021. Fully vaccinated means it has been two weeks since the final dose of vaccine. Thus, we now require vaccinationprior to start for all new hires.

Resources for Human Development is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, veteran, or disability status.