Dental Assistant, Medicross - Netcare

The Dental Assistant is responsible to assist the Dentists in various capacities ranging from clinical assistance, dental-related administration as well as patient interaction across a wide spectrum.

Key work output and accountabilities

Appointment scheduling

• Schedule appointments with Specialists and/or Theatre
• Confirm appointments with the Dentist
• Keep a record of confirmation/cancellations
• Liaise with medical schemes and patients regarding available limits and patient liable amounts pertaining to treatment

Equipment maintenance

• Sterilise all instruments, according to protocol, ensuring infection control standards are maintained
• Oil and clean handpieces 3x daily, according to protocol
• Oil and clean electric handpieces after each patient
• Fill, empty and clean developer and mixer bottles

• Ensure chemistry is discarded as per Medical Waste Protocol
• Clean and autoclave instruments
• Ensure daily cleaning of the autoclave
• Load and unload autoclave
• Clean and reprocess equipment or instrumentation
• Identify problems with equipment/instruments and advise the applicable person to arrange for timeous repairs/acquisition thereof

Central assistance

• Assist the Dentist with passing correct instruments and materials/consumables used on patients on request timeously and accurately
• Develop X-rays, if not using digital X-rays and load X-ray Digital Imaging plates for scanning where applicable
• Mix materials with a spatula as required
• Conduct suctioning as required
• Ensure materials and supplies are packed and accessible
• Ensure and plan enough stock on hand in terms of materials/consumables to prevent shortages
• Mix amalgam and/or mixable composites/cement etc. and place in the transfer tool/s to be handed to dentist
• Prepare sterile trays; ensuring instruments have undergone sterilisation
• Prepare non-sterile trays

Customer Focus and Service Delivery

• Ensure effective and formal communication
• Ensure a professional environment at all times
• Interact with patients in a friendly and comforting manner whilst preparing them for the dentist (i.e. placing bib, seating etc.) and with the exiting process out of the surgery after the procedure/s have been completed

Skills profile

Education

• Grade 12 or equivalent NQF 4 certificate
• Registered with HPCSA
• Higher Certificate in Dental Assisting essential

Work experience

• 2 years’ experience in frontline reception in a clinic/hospital environment
• SAP experience
• ME + experience

Knowledge

• Knowledge of medical aids
• Computer literacy