Orthodontic Assistant

The Orthodontic Assistant prepares treatment rooms, provides support to patients and assists the orthodontist with a variety of treatment procedures, including infant orthopedics, interceptive orthodontic treatment, comprehensive orthodontic treatment and combined surgical orthodontic treatment. The Orthodontic Assistant also assists in dental emergencies that occur in the Dental Clinic, Emergency Department (ED), Operating Room (OR) and Procedure Suite (PC).

Additional Information

• Location/Dept: HP Orthodontics
• Job Details: 1.0 FTE; 40 hours/week - eligible for benefits
• Shift: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM

Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepares treatment room for patient by following the day sheet treatment plan. Sterilizes and prepares instruments, equipment and materials at the chair-side for orthodontist's access.
• Ensures operation of dental equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements, following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories and completing training on new equipment.
• Prepares patient for treatment by welcoming, comforting, seating and draping patients. Examines patient and checks for loose or broken appliances prior to procedure. Provides oral maintenance and home care education to patient and family.
• Properly reviews patient's history and medical records prior to patient visit and provides orthodontist with a brief. Informs orthodontist of any broken appliances prior to procedure.
• Responsible for proper documentation of patient visit as appropriate. Updates patient health history, patient chart and other patient documentation. Takes properly formatted photographs and radiographs and enters into patient's record.
• Assists the orthodontist during treatment. Performs pediatric prophylaxis. Places and removes orthodontic separators. Properly prepares teeth for orthodontic procedures, such as bonding and banding. Changes and ligates archwires with elastomers or steel ligatures. Properly fits and cements orthodontic bands. Tries in and adjusts fixed and removable orthodontic appliances as directed. Places surgical archwires and hooks. Removes fixed and removable orthodontic appliances as directed. Takes impressions and occlusal registrations for study models and working models. Pours and trims study models.
• Administrative support, including monitoring dental supply inventory and orders supplies.
• Monitors lab cases and insures proper cleaning/organization of lab as necessary in preparation the next patient.
• Assesses and directs parents/patients regarding orthodontic emergencies, as appropriate. Assists in dental emergencies that occur in the clinic by preparing the treatment room, and ensuring accessibility of instruments, equipment and materials during procedures. Anticipates instruments needed by orthodontist throughout the procedure and ensures timely access of instruments.
• Complies with OSHA regulations, infection control protocols, CHCO patient safety policies, Joint Commission regulations, National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG), and QSRS filing

Minimum Qualifications

• Degrees
  • High School diploma or GED
• Area of Study
  • Graduation from an accredited Dental Assistant certification program.
• Experience
  • Required:Two (2) years of experience as an Orthodontic Assistant.
• Equivalency
  • Not Applicable
• Licenses & Certifications
  • Basic Life Support
• Additional Requirements
  • Not applicable
• Competency
  • None

Salary Information
Pay is dependent on applicant's relevant experience.

Hourly Range: $21.35 to $32.03

Benefits Information
Here, you matter. As a Children's Hospital Colorado team member, you will receive a competitive pay and benefits package designed to take care of your needs that includes base pay, incentives, paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, company provided life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, 403b employer match (retirement savings), a robust wellness program, and access to professional development tools, including an education benefit to help you advance your career.

As part of our Total Rewards package, Children's Colorado offers an annual employee bonus program that rewards eligible team members based on organizational performance. If organizational goals are met for the year, the bonus is paid out the following April.

Children's Colorado delivers annual base pay increases to eligible team members based on their performance over the previous year.

EEO Statement
It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. Be aware that none of the questions are intended to imply illegal preferences or discrimination based on non-job-related information. The position is expected to stay open until the posted close date. Please submit your application as soon as possible as the posting is subject to close at any time once a sufficient pool of qualified applicants is obtained.

Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.