Dental Assistant

Introduction

KinderSmile Foundation was founded in the community and for the community. Since establishment in 2007, our mission has been to provide underserved children, perinatal women, and families with access to comprehensive dental care and educate underserved children and their families on the importance of dental hygiene. We envision a future where every child has access to a dentist, and preventable dental diseases are eradicated.

As an organization that bridges the gap in access to care for vulnerable communities in the state, we ensure that the patients and community receive quality care at the highest ethical caliber, valuing checks and balances. KinderSmile Foundation dental providers and staff are expected to adhere to the highest level of ethical conduct, responsibility, and integrity when caring for our patients and community, understanding the trust they place in us to prioritize their health and wellbeing.

Position Summary

As a KinderSmile Foundation bilingual Dental Assistant (DA) at a KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center (KSCOHC) Dental Home, you are responsible for providing support to dental professionals and ensuring a comfortable, efficient, and professional environment for patients. You assist in the delivery of high-quality dental treatment and oral health education to all patients, including chairside assisting, sterilization, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace. The Dental Assistant works collaboratively with the dental team, adheres to KinderSmile Foundation protocols, and contributes to a positive patient experience.

You will work closely with Dentists, Dental Hygienists, other Dental Assistants, Front Desk Patient Coordinators, and other Dental Home staff and volunteers, fostering a team-oriented atmosphere and furthering the culture of KinderSmile Foundation. You are committed to

community dentistry and KinderSmile Foundation's mission of providing underserved children, perinatal women, and families with comprehensive dental care and educating families on the importance of dental hygiene. This position requires an interest in Public Health and community service, along with excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. You are ethical, friendly, punctual, reliable, a self-starter, and have an affinity for working with children, successfully balancing the responsibilities of this role.

You are committed to supporting Public Health Dentistry and to ensuring that access to oral health care for at-risk children and families from marginalized communities is completed under KinderSmile Foundation's protocols and in accordance with all state, federal, and industry standards. This position requires adherence to all office protocols, including OSHA and HIPAA regulations, and maintaining a clean, organized workspace, along with wearing clean scrubs at all times to ensure a professional and hygienic appearance. A valid NJ Dental Radiologic Technologist (DRT) License and current BLS/CPR certification are required.

Work schedule

• Monday: 9:00 am-6:00 pm
• Tuesday: 10:00 am-7:00 pm
• Thursday: 9:00 am-6:00 pm

A one-hour unpaid lunch break will be part of the work schedule (30 minutes on 6- or 6.5-hour days).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Dental Assistant provides direct chairside and patient support at an assigned KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Dental Home, working under the general direction of the Dental Home Director. This role is key to delivering high-quality clinical care and a positive patient experience while maintaining infection control, inventory, and administrative compliance.

• Core Duty 1: Patient Care & Chairside Assisting: Treat all patients, their families, and caregivers with respect, dignity, and professionalism, following KinderSmile Foundation's philosophy of Education, Intervention, and Prevention.
• Greet and seat patients, and perform chairside assisting for providers in all fields of dentistry
• Prepare for and take impressions, and take radiographs (if licensed)
• Educate patients on oral hygiene, plaque control, and oral disease prevention, and remind patients of their next dental visit and the importance of recall care
• Prepare age-appropriate Take Home bags and guide Community Service Learning Program volunteers to do the same
• Core Duty 2: Sterilization, Inventory & Infection Control: Set up and break down operatories, maintain sterilization protocols, and keep the Dental Home clean, neat, organized, and well-stocked in compliance with OSHA regulations.
• Bag, sterilize, and store instruments, and stock drawers and cabinets
• Track and maintain clinical inventory
• Perform infection control testing weekly and/or monthly as required, and log and initial the dates
• Protect patients and staff by adhering to infection control policies and protocols
• Core Duty 3: Patient Education & Community Outreach: During clinical hours, utilize downtime between patients effectively, and assist with training and mentorship within the Dental Home.
• Review patients and procedures scheduled
• Assist with training new Dental Assistants to ensure compliance with KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Dental Home protocols
• Mentor Community Service Learning Program volunteers
• Assist with oral health education workshops at schools and community programs as needed and available
• Core Duty 4: Records, Lab Cases & Billing Support: Assist in documenting patient care in Eaglesoft accurately, respectfully, and in a timely manner, using KSF Autonotes as the initial template for consistency.
• Maintain a clear log of lab cases as they are sent and received, and verify that patients with appointments have their received lab cases
• Walk out all patient treatments in Eaglesoft with the correct CDT codes
• Remain current on KinderSmile Foundation programs (KSOHP, PHWP, CSLP, GBAS) and ensure their integration into the Dental Home
• Core Duty 5: Policies & Regulatory Compliance: Follow policies and procedures approved by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and adhere to KinderSmile Foundation's Standard Operating Procedures and applicable regulatory standards.

General Staff Responsibilities

• Ensure that your DA licenses and credentials are up to date, with copies on file with HR and the Chief Operating Officer, if applicable.
• Treat all KinderSmile Foundation staff and volunteers with respect, dignity, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity.
• Ensure adherence to KinderSmile Foundation's Principles of Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Core Values in Dentistry, which mirror the guidelines set forth by the American Dental Association and American College of Dentists.
• Abide by all state and federal regulatory standards, and KinderSmile Foundation's manuals and policies, including OSHA, HIPAA, NJDEP, Cybersecurity, and Risk Management.
• OSHA and HIPAA regulations
• KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Policies and Procedures: Operations & Protocols Manual
• Employee Handbook
• Medical Emergencies Policy
• Risk Management protocols
• State and Federal regulations and standards
• Refrain from having liquids or cell phones in operatories, and from personal cell phone use except during scheduled breaks.
• Have flexibility to fill in at other KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center Dental Home locations when needed and/or on an emergency basis.
• Comply with KinderSmile Foundation procedures, rules, and regulations to maintain a clean and safe working environment.
• Log work hours on Eaglesoft.
• Attend Staff Meetings and trainings.
• Request time away from work from your Supervisor with at least two weeks' notice, submitting a Staff Request for Time Off form for approval and signature.
• Use a KinderSmile.org email address for work communications.
• Respond to phone calls and emails expeditiously by the end of day, or within 12 hours.
• Adhere to management and HR deadline requests.
• Provide 30 days' notice if you need to leave KinderSmile Foundation.

Qualifications

Education & Credentials

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Current NJ Dental Radiologic Technologist (DRT) License required
• Current BLS/CPR certification preferred

Experience

• Previous experience in a dental office working with pediatric patients and an affinity for Public Health Dentistry

Skills & Proficiencies

Proficiency

• Proficient in taking impressions and radiographs (if licensed)
• Familiarity and working knowledge of Eaglesoft Patient Management System
• Familiarity with dental software and electronic health records
• Good communication and telephone skills

Other Critical Skills

• Organized
• Punctual and reliable
• Likes working with children
• Effective communication skills, oral and written

Special Working Conditions

• The Dental Assistant may be in close physical proximity or contact with patients when providing dental care
• The employee is responsible for the appropriate usage and handling of personal protective equipment as needed in accordance with community levels and guidelines if needed in the event of a communicable disease breakout, when applicable
• Clean scrubs are required for a professional and hygienic appearance at all times
• This role requires working at different KSCOHC Dental Home locations on various days of the week, and may include offsite visits as part of the KinderSmile Oral Health Program (KSOHP) that begin earlier than 9:00 a.m. or follow school-day hours
• The role involves managing multiple projects, assignments, activities, and tasks simultaneously
• Respond to phone calls and emails in a timely manner and adhere to management and HR deadlines, as needed

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements for the Dental Assistant position typically include the ability to stand or sit for extended periods. When caring for dental patients (offsite or onsite), the Dental Assistant must possess fine motor skills and manual dexterity to perform precise, delicate tasks while using various dental instruments. They may also need to bend, reach, and twist in order to access different areas of a patient's mouth, requiring good flexibility and overall physical fitness. Good vision and hand-eye coordination are essential for performing accurate and effective dental treatments.

Benefits

This posting's pay range is stated above. As required by New Jersey's Pay & Benefit Transparency Act, this notice also applies to internal transfer and promotion opportunities.

Subject to eligibility requirements and plan terms, and subject to change under organizational policy, compensation may include:

• 403(b) retirement plan
• Professional development opportunities

Specific eligibility, amounts, and terms are governed by the applicable plan documents and the Employee Handbook, and do not constitute a guarantee of any particular benefit.

Equal Employment Opportunity

KinderSmile Foundation, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, train, promote, and administer all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, age, marital or domestic partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the ADA, and other applicable federal, state, and local law.

At-Will Employment & Job Description Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications, and duties may change at KinderSmile Foundation's discretion to meet organizational needs. This document is not a contract of employment and does not alter the at-will nature of employment with KinderSmile Foundation, under which either the employee or KinderSmile Foundation may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, except as otherwise required by law.

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25.0 per week

Work Location: In person