Office Support​/Dental Assistant

Overview

The primary purpose of this position is to provide administrative support to the Mobile Dental Clinic. This position is responsible for escorting students to and from the Mobile Dental Clinic for appointments. The position is to verify income, insurance coverage, schedule and confirm appointments on the Mobile Dental Clinic.

• Manage patient financial records to achieve the maximum reimbursement rates for services provided
• Work with dentist & dental assistant to ensure services are coded accurately and at the highest reimbursement level
• Collect insurance information from patient prior to appointment and call to verify benefits are active prior to appointment;
  Obtain pre-approval from insurance companies and Medicaid for dental procedures and maintain current benefit information
• Verify proof of income per agency policy and utilizing the federal poverty level income guidelines determine patient’s percentage of pay
• Collect patient fees and complete daily report, to include deposit and turn all into Administrative Specialist and/or designee; provide copies of daily report and checks to Administrative Specialist (billing) in main dental clinic
• Scan paper documents into electronic record
• Order office supplies for your area as needed from the Purchasing Agent in the health department
• Escort Students between School and Mobile Dental Unit for appointments
• Compile and prepare student welcome dental packages, and deliver to the next school 2 weeks prior to moving the mobile dental clinic. Collect completed student paperwork from the school nurse on moving day.
• Work closely with health department Social Worker processing Medicaid and Health Choice applications and setting up appointments

• Conduct self in a professional manner, utilizing customer friendly techniques that express care and understanding
• Schedule and coordinate patient appointments for dentist and dental hygienist to ensure optimal clinic flow
• Confirm patient appointments the day before via phone
• Maintain a call list of patients that can come on short notice to optimize productivity
• Register patient and establish patient record in electronic dental record
• Ensure that telephone is always answered. Check phone for messages throughout the day and before leaving at the end of the day.
• For returning patients, update patient demographics in electronic dental record
• Manage patients in lobby and assist with patient flow to minimize patient wait times
• Open all mail and distribute appropriately
• Follow-up on all referrals and document information in patient’s chart and referral log book
• Perform various other duties as directed by the supervisor, or the Health & Human Services Director necessary to achieve organizational and programmatic goals and objectives
• Establish rapport with school personnel & promote dental services
• Schedule mobile unit for maintenance concerns and assist with preparation for mobile relocation and setup at new sites with Health Department Administrative Officer
• Take complete and accurate medical history; review medical history on return visits and report findings to dentist
• Take vital signs as needed
• Ensure proper informed consents have been discussed with and signed by patient prior to procedure
• Have proper instruments and supplies ready prior to procedure
• Place appropriate burs into hand pieces for procedures being performed
• Have knowledge of dental procedures so that appropriate instruments are placed into or removed from dentist’s hands at appropriate times to ensure efficiency
• Have knowledge of dental procedures so that appropriate dental materials are dispensed in proper sequence
• Keep field of operation clear of obstruction and operative site well-illuminated adjusting operatory light as necessary to ensure optimal visibility for dentist
• Evacuate saliva and other debris from patient’s oral cavity as needed
• Retract tongue and cheeks so instrument and material placement is facilitated
• Take impressions for study models and opposing casts as necessary
• Place cavity liners as necessary
• Pack gingival retraction cord for crown impressions as necessary
• Insert matrix bands and wedges
• Place and remove rubber dams as needed
• Cement temporary…