Dental Assistant – Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) - Long Island

Position Summary

The Dental Assistant supports the delivery of high-quality oral health care by preparing treatment rooms, patients, instruments, and materials; assisting during procedures; and ensuring compliance with applicable dental practice regulations. This role contributes to a patient-centered environment focused on safety, efficiency, and compassionate care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Greet and escort patients to treatment areas, ensuring comfort and readiness for care.
• Prepare and organize dental instruments and materials required for procedures.
• Clean, disinfect, and sterilize reusable instruments in accordance with infection control standards.
• Assist the dentist during patient care, including instrument transfer, suctioning, and providing patient support and reassurance.
• Take dental radiographs as prescribed (e.g., panoramic, periapical, bitewing).
• Monitor inventory levels and initiate reorders as needed.
• Report malfunctioning equipment to appropriate personnel.
• Retrieve and file patient charts, ensuring all documentation is complete and accurate prior to filing.
• Manage communication tasks, including messages, faxes, and coordination with laboratories.
• Coordinate with dental labs for pickup and delivery of cases (e.g., dentures) and maintain logs.
• Schedule and confirm patient appointments.
• Answer phones, triage calls, and document messages while supporting clinical workflow.
• Complete required forms (e.g., Medicaid overrides) and obtain necessary provider signatures.
• Prepare and submit copies of dental records to Medical Records upon completion of treatment.
• Update provider schedules as needed.
• Perform general clerical and administrative duties within the dental clinic.
• Travel between clinic sites as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Dentists, the Practice Director, or designee.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty effectively. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma, GED, or HSE required; college coursework preferred.
• Prior dental assisting or healthcare experience preferred.

Required Skills and Abilities

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional and technical documents.
• Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedural materials.
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, staff, and the public.

Mathematical Skills

• Basic arithmetic skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense and follow written, oral, and diagram-based instructions.

Computer Skills

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Experience with Practice Management and Electronic Medical Records systems; familiarity with eClinicalWorks preferred.

Additional Competencies

• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills with a commitment to excellent patient service.
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of general clerical procedures and filing systems.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made as needed.

• Frequent use of hands for handling instruments and equipment.
• Regular standing and occasional sitting, bending, kneeling, or crouching.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds occasionally.
• Visual abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and focus adjustment.

Travel Requirements

Travel between clinic locations may be required based on operational needs.

Work Environment

This role is performed in a clinical setting with exposure to standard dental and healthcare environments. The work environment characteristics described are representative of those encountered while performing essential functions, with reasonable accommodations available as needed.