This team member serves as a clinical orthodontic assistant. In addition to the full scope of duties associated with clinical orthodontic assisting, there is close interaction with patients, parents, co-workers, physicians, dentists, supervisors, and other hospital professionals and staff. High standards of professionalism and efficiency are utilized in an interdisciplinary team setting. Comprehensive orthodontic care is provided for a patient population affected by cleft lip and palate and other facial differences, as well as traditional family orthodontic care not associated with medical needs. This work is under general supervision of an orthodontist, according to the established policies and procedures, in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dental Law.

Responsibilities:

Participate in continuing education of and gain proficiency in technology used by the practice and center. Prepare patients for treatment; perform preliminary treatment as directed. Assist the orthodontist and other team members with orthodontic procedures. Mix orthodontic cements and materials.  Prepare orthodontic appliances to be cemented. Place topical anesthetics. Communicate effectively with patients, parents, and all interdisciplinary team members associated with the patients care. Lab work: pouring models, trimming models, creating essix style retainers, simple hard acrylic appliances. Advanced laboratory appliance fabrication according to assistant training and experience. Greet, seat and dismiss patients in and timely manner in accordance with office procedures. Mail or digitally send patient impressions and models. Receive appliances and models from orthodontic laboratories. Perform all necessary housekeeping procedures including keeping all work areas properly stocked. Manage spills and patient accidents. Maintain equipment and supplies. Pass instruments to the dentist/orthodontist during dental/orthodontic examinations and procedures using four handed dental assisting techniques. Deliver orthodontic and oral hygiene instructions. Review records to confirm diagnostic quality. Take and develop radiographs (panoramic, CBCT, cephalometric, occlusal, periapical, bite wing radiographs) of consistent, diagnostic quality. Coordination of data: patient records for care presentation, surgical planning, new patient data, charting patient progress. Coordination of clinical care: interdisciplinary communications and scheduling, dental procedures in coordination with orthodontics and pediatric dentistry, obtaining dental impressions and appliance inserts/removals in coordination with Plastic Surgery and Pediatric Dentistry procedures. Assist with orthodontic treatment needs related to craniofacial surgery. Perform the above duties in accordance with the hospital mission statement: Improve the health and well-being of children through excellence in patient care, teaching and research. Perform the above duties in accordance with the hospital values, putting patients and families first through: quality and safety, dignity and respect, caring and listening, responsibility and integrity. Perform the above duties in accordance with the culture of the orthodontic practice: professionalism, positivity, effectiveness, efficiency, excellence and team work. Basic orthodontic assisting skills: chairside assisting, dental impressions, removal/placement of arch wires, band fitting, preparation for orthodontic bracket bonding, removal of orthodontic brackets, fitting of orthodontic appliances, basic orthodontic laboratory skills, treatment room set up/clean up, charting in accordance with hospital and clinic standards. Identify and manage software and hardware technology concerns; inform hospital technology support and follow up as needed. Identify and manage equipment functionality concerns; inform hospital or supply representative support and follow up as needed. Record detailed electronic chart entries, including clinical care rendered, the clinical presentation of the patient / the assistant and Dr. clinical assessment, patient/parent questions and insight, future visit plans and overall treatment goals. Obtain patient records, including medical, dental and orthodontic history, intraoral and extraoral photos, traditional and digital impressions for study models, and radiographs. Obtain informed consent, review practice attendance policy, obtain photo consent, review medical history.