Dental Assistant

Department
 

BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences - Oral Health

About the Department
 

The Center for Health and the Social Sciences (CHeSS), founded in 2005, strives to continue the legacy at the University of Chicago for being a leader in both research and training at the intersection of health and the social sciences. We foster innovation and collaboration, as well as excellence in research, scholarship, and training. CHeSS staff supports the writing and submission of grant applications and fundraising proposals, brainstorms and coordinates new research initiatives and projects, and provides expert research methods consultation during formative and operational phases of work.

Job Summary
 

The Dental Assistant has the responsibility of assisting in providing dental services for patients of the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Dental Research Study Clinic. Along with clinical responsibilities, the Dental Assistant will also have research responsibilities for studies that are conducted in the clinic.

Responsibilities

• Helps patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.

• Prepares patient for dental treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating, and draping patient.

• Schedules clinical appointments with patients in person and over the phone.

• Asks about the patient's medical history, blood pressure, and pulse.

• Documents measurements and treatments in the electronic dental record. Positions and passes instruments for dentist's access.

• Suctions patient saliva and debris during treatments.

• Maintains patient confidence by keeping information confidential.

• Provides patients with instructions for oral self-care following dental treatments.

• Teaches patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health; (e.g., tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling).

• Provides information to patients and employees by answering questions and requests.

• Prepares treatment room for patient by following prescribed procedures and protocols.

• Adheres to infection control and sterilization procedures and prepare instruments and equipment.

• Provides instrumentation by working with Central Sterile Processing to sterilize and deliver instruments to treatment area.

• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.

• Maintains dental supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies.

• Supports, facilitates and coordinates daily study activities while working with investigators and other staff.

• Educates patients about study procedures to be performed, the study visit schedule, what to report between and during visits, and the risks and benefits of the procedures.

• Plans and coordinates the schedule for study non-clinical visits and activities.

• With guidance from study protocols, investigators, and staff, conducts screening and informed consent for potential study enrollees, administer study questionnaires/surveys with study enrollees, collect intraoral images of study enrollees.

• Protects patients and data confidentiality by ensuring security of research data and personal health information and compliance with federal regulations and sponsor protocols.

• Prepares for or participate in quality assurance audits under supervision or following specific protocol procedures.

• Participates in study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Experience as a dental assistant, handling administrative tasks, and maintaining a dental office.

• Research experience.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Dental Assisting National Board’s Certified Dental Assistant certification.

​

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Full knowledge of oral health clinical practice including visual identification of oral health disease and adversity, minor and major ailments.

• Learn and use ICE dental EMR, REDCap, Epic EMR, MouthWatch software, and Dexis software.

• Familiarity with general business practices.

• Learn and complete processes of research study participant recruitment.

• Learn processes and complete processes of administering questionnaires for survey-based research.

• Read and understand complex documents, e.g. protocols.

• Handle confidential information with utmost discretion and in compliance with HIPAA guidelines.

Preferred Competencies

• Work independently and as part of a team.

• Commitment to providing a high level of service and high degree of professionalism.

• Attention to detail.

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Communicate with tact and diplomacy.

• Absorb large amounts of information quickly.

• Handle multiple tasks simultaneously and under tight deadlines.

• Strong analytical and organizational skills.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Requires Compliance with University Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

Yes

Health Screen Required
 

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.