Bilingual -Dual Role Registered Dental Assist
| Estimated Pay info | Based on similar jobs in your market$19 per hour |
|---|---|
| Hours | Full-time, Part-time |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
About this job
Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY
As the “voice” of the dental practice, this role shapes the patient’s first impression and reinforces the organization’s commitment to high-quality oral healthcare and service excellence. Responsibly manages incoming calls by triaging patient needs, answering questions related to dental services, directing inquiries to appropriate clinical or administrative staff, and ensuring timely and accurate message documentation and routing. In the capacity as a Registered Dental Assistant provides comprehensive chairside support to a licensed dentist and/or hygienist, facilitating efficient delivery of high-quality patient care. Maintains a high level of professionalism, confidentiality, and attention to detail in all patient interactions. Assists with language translation for patients as needed to ensure clear, accurate communication and enhance access to care.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Patient Reception and Communication
Greet patients in a professional and courteous manner, addressing inquiries when appropriate and directing more complex questions to the appropriate clinical or administrative personnel. - Patient Registration
Facilitate the accurate and timely completion of patient registration forms, ensuring all required documentation is obtained. - Demographic Data Management
Collect, verify, and update patient demographic information within the practice management system to maintain accurate records. - Insurance Verification
Verify patient insurance coverage, including primary care provider (PCP) selection when applicable, ensuring eligibility and benefit accuracy. - Financial Coordination
Establish payment arrangements and collect applicable co-payments, deductibles, and balances in accordance with insurance coverage and sliding fee schedules. - Appointment Scheduling (Clinical Coordination)
Schedule outpatient dental consultations and procedures as directed by providers, ensuring compliance with payer guidelines and authorization requirements. - Daily Activity Reporting
Complete and reconcile Daily Activity Reports at the close of each business day. - Cash Handling and Reconciliation
Accurately count and reconcile all payments collected, maintaining a balanced cash drawer in accordance with financial protocols. - Ledger Review – Credits
Review patient account ledgers to ensure all suspended credits are appropriately applied. - Ledger Review – Coding Accuracy
Audit patient ledgers to confirm accurate assignment of CDT (Current Dental Terminology) codes and correct provider attribution. - Comprehensive Appointment Scheduling
Schedule patient appointments using the electronic scheduling system, taking into account provider availability, weekly templates, and PRN scheduling needs. - Message Management
Document and relay detailed telephone messages for administrators, dentists, hygienists, and staff, including date, time, and staff identification; communicate messages to leadership as appropriate. - Patient Recall and Reminders
Coordinate appointment reminders and recall services to support continuity of care and patient compliance with recommended treatment plans. - Call Management and Routing
Professionally manage incoming calls by triaging patient needs, routing calls efficiently, and utilizing paging systems when necessary to ensure timely communication. - Charge Processing (HL7)
Review and complete HL7 charge entries to ensure accurate data transmission and billing integrity. - Referral Coordination
Generate, track, and manage dental referrals as prescribed by the dentist, ensuring timely follow-up and documentation. - Pre-Authorization Management
Prepare and monitor dental pre-authorizations to support treatment approval and reimbursement. - Insurance Denial Resolution
Review and address insurance denials, making necessary corrections and resubmissions to support revenue cycle efficiency. - Compliance with Treatment Plans (OTP Guidelines)
Adhere to guidelines associated with approved treatment plans (OTP), ensuring alignment with payer and organizational standards. - Provides chairside assistance by retracting the patient’s cheek, tongue, and oral tissues, and effectively manages moisture control using suction and air/water syringes to maintain a clear operative field.
- Obtains diagnostic dental radiographs, including exposing and processing X-rays of the teeth, jaws, and surrounding oral structures in accordance with safety standards.
- Assists with clinical procedures by applying topical anesthetics and medications; placing rubber dams; removing excess cement from restorations; placing matrix bands; adjusting orthodontic ligatures; and removing sutures as directed by the dentist.
- Performs basic dental assessments, including dietary and salivary evaluations, and adheres to strict infection control protocols in compliance with OSHA and CDC guidelines.
- Provides patient education on proper oral hygiene techniques; accurately charts oral conditions and treatment provided in the patient record.
- Maintains and disinfects dental equipment, including flushing and cleaning evacuation systems according to established protocols.
- Completes required clinical and administrative documentation, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Coordinates patient scheduling, including recall appointments, to support continuity of care and optimal clinic flow.
- Manages inventory of dental supplies and equipment; places orders, tracks usage, coordinates equipment maintenance and repairs, and evaluates products and pricing.
- Tracks and monitors dental laboratory cases to ensure timely case completion and proper communication with dental laboratories.
- Performs all duties within the scope of practice for a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), in accordance with applicable state regulations at a minimum of once per month.
- Language Access and Translation Support
Provides language translation assistance for patients as needed to ensure clear, accurate, and culturally sensitive communication. Supports patient understanding of dental services, treatment plans, and administrative processes, thereby enhancing access to care and promoting a positive patient experience. - Operational Flexibility
Provide coverage and support across multiple dental practice locations as needed. - Additional Responsibilities
Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall efficiency, compliance, and patient-centered operations of the dental practice.
Expanded Functions
- Performs coronal polishing procedures and mechanically polishes restorative surfaces in accordance with established clinical guidelines.
- Places and removes provisional (temporary) restorations as directed by the supervising dentist.
- Monitors patient status and comfort levels during the administration of nitrous oxide sedation, ensuring patient safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Applies pit and fissure sealants to prevent dental caries, following evidence-based clinical protocols.
JOBS THIS POSITION DIRECTLY SUPERVISES
If no supervisory duties, leave blank.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Education: High school diploma plus Registered Dental Assistant Program along with Expanded Functions education
Experience: Bilingual with one to two years experience performing fundamental and expanded duties of a registered dental assistant as outlined by the Tennessee State Board of Dentistry; experience completing dental radiographs and alginate impressions; and experience performing clerical duties associated with a dental office.
Licenses or Certifications: Registered to practice as an expanded function Dental Assistant as stipulated by the Laws and Administrative Rules of the Tennessee State Board of Dentistry. CPR Certification is required.
Mental Requirements
Level 1 – Requires some concentration and normal attention. Generally, once the job is learned, the tasks can be performed more or less automatically.
X
Level 2 – Requires high periods of concentration intermittently and normal attention. Generally, even once the job is learned, tasks will require normal attention to deal with recurring variables.
Level 3 – Requires a high level of concentration and high level of attention intermittently. Generally, the approach to tasks may be consistent, but the number of steps required and/or the number of variables involved creates the possibility of errors unless the incumbent pays close attention.
Physical Requirements
Activity
Approximate % of Time
Comments
Sitting
30%
May sit while assisting dentist, working the front desk, or working on computer
Standing
30%
Assisting the dentist, sterilizing instruments, taking x-rays, pulling files
Walking
40%
Greeting patients, taking x-rays, getting supplies
100%
Approximate percentage of time spent lifting, pulling and/or pushing: 15%
Maximum number of pounds required (with or without assistance): 30 lbs.
Types of objects the incumbent is required to lift/pull/push. Patients in wheelchairs, boxes of supplies, moving the patient chair
Machines and Equipment Used:
Machines, Equipment, Tools
Approximate % of Time
Degree of Hand: Eye Coordination Required
- Dental Chairs
50%
High
- Dental x-ray machine
50%
High
- Computers
50%
High
- Dental instruments
50%
High
- Autoclave
50%
High
- Processor
50%
High
Approximate percentage of time incumbent spends in “on-the-job” travel, excluding commuting to regular work location: 25% travel between various work sites.
Working Conditions
Exposure to fumes from chemicals (developer fixer); intense light under the dental light; exposure to varying weather conditions when traveling between worksites; exposure to contagious and infectious disease; possible burns from the autoclave.
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