Career Opportunities
WE NOW OFFER A DENTAL ASSISTANT COURSE.
This course will prepare you for the real, working dental office. After completion of our program you will actually get paid to be a trainee in a dental office. We even offer placement services to help you get the job! The exam is taken after 6 months of "trainee status" and by then you will be confident in your dental assisting abilities. For more information go to our Dental Assisting Website.
Q. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
A. There are other progams to choose from in the Sioux City area but why would you want to pay $10,000 for a 6-9 month program and sit in a classroom for the first 4 months? In our course, you will be in the clinic, working with the equipment the very first day! Siouxland Dental Health offers payments programs to pay your tuition. Not to mention, our tuition covers all expenses. No hidden fees or extras to buy! Download our Tuition Payment Plan.
Q. IS THERE A DEMAND FOR DENTAL ASSISTANTS?
A. The job opportunities for trained dental assistants are excellent in today's marketplace. In most areas, there is an acute shortage of dental assistants. Just look at the want-ads in the newspaper and you will see there is always a continuing demand for well trained dental assistants. Plus, we offer placement services, job interview coaching, and send our graduates names to inquiring dental offices looking for a trained dental assistant. Just look at our Dr.'s Page.
Q. HOW MUCH TIME WILL IT TAKE?
A. The classes are held for 10 weeks only on the weekend. Even though you can still work your regular job, I won't kid you, there is a lot of home study! Each time we meet you will have read ahead for that days lessons. We will work thoroughly but quickly introducing you to the wonderful world of dental assisting!
Dental Administrative Team Leader
The Administrative Team Leader has total operational responsibility. This person will ensure the practice provides extraordinary patient service in the most cost effective manner while meeting the highest quality standards. This person is responsible to lead the practice by encouraging teamwork and holding the team and the doctor accountable for financial success. This person must develop action plans with team members and doctors to ensure goals are being met and exceeded; ensure that all daily/monthly reports are accurate and completed in a timely manner; conduct monthly staff training to ensure that we are continually teaching, challenging, and developing team members to be the best they can be; facilitate communication process between each area of the practice; and to inspire team members to take responsibility for their practice as if it were their very own.
Front Desk Receptionist
The Front Desk Receptionist serves as the focal point for the dental appointment system. The receptionist answers the telephone and makes appointments for patients according to the established practice protocols; greets patients as they come in, checks patients in and update all personal and insurance information; establishes and maintains patient records files, retrieves and monitors the location of dental records; generates paperwork to register patients for services; and triage appointments for staff.
Hygiene Assistant
The Hygiene Assistant assists the Registered Dental Hygienist and/or the Dentist during treatment and examination of patients by performing the following essential duties and responsibilities. Prepare operatory for patient care by cleaning, sanitizing and maintaining instruments and equipment; prepare patient for hygiene exam by greeting the patient, escorting the patient to the treatment room, and making them feel at-ease and comfortable to build rapport; take and record medical and dental histories and updated personal information in patient's chart; take and expose dental diagnostic x-rays; inform the hygienist when patient is ready for prophylaxis; assist the hygienist in suctioning, periodontic exams and new patient periodontic screening; polish, floss and administer fluoride treatment and other recognized topical agents for the prevention of oral disease for patients after the hygienist completes scaling; assist the dentist and hygienist with patient exam, dental and periodontal charting; and end the treatment visit by reinforcing the treatment plan, providing preventive education and escorting the patient back to the front reception area.
Hygienist
Dental Hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. Hygienists examine patients' teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities. They remove calculus, stains, and plaque from teeth; perform root planing as a periodontal therapy; take and develop dental x-rays; and apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. Although hygienists may not diagnose diseases, they can prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. Hygienists sometimes work chair side with the dentist during treatment.
Dental hygienists also help patients develop and maintain good oral health. For example, they may explain the relationship between diet and oral health or inform patients how to select toothbrushes and show them how to brush and floss their teeth.
Dental hygienists use hand and rotary instruments and ultrasonics to clean and polish teeth, x-ray machines to take dental pictures, syringes with needles to administer local anesthetics, and models of teeth to explain oral hygiene.
Dental Assistant
Dental assistants are responsible for working directly with dentists while patients receive treatment. They review and maintain patients' charts, pass instruments to the dentist during procedures, sterilize instruments, make temporary crowns and impressions of teeth for study models, polish patients' teeth, and take and develop x-rays. They also assist with tasks such as scheduling appointments and ordering supplies.
Financial Coordinator
The Treatment/Financial Coordinator is a professional, organized, reliable, team player who plays a vital role in the practice. The Treatment/Financial Coordinator educates the patient about their treatment plan, after the dentist has diagnosed and reviewed the treatment with a patient; continuously researches and forms working relationships with outside patent care financing companies in order to give our patients a wide range of viable financial options; determines insurance benefits that apply to treatment plans and estimate patient co-pay amounts; assists patients with dental insurance; presents fees and gives estimates of treatment; works with accounts receivable; generates end of day reports; monitors treatment plans and case acceptance; and implements financial policies.
Hygiene Coordinator
The Hygiene Coordinator is responsible for performing all functions of the front office as they relate to developing, coordinating and maintaining a productive hygiene schedule. As a Dental Hygiene Coordinator, you will play an important role in making and confirming dental hygiene appointments. The Dental Hygiene Coordinator will interact with the practice team members and patients to maintain a productive hygiene schedule. You will be required to schedule, reschedule, and reactivate patients to maximize the hygiene department production. You will use a computer and scheduling software. This position will require excellent organizational, telephone and patient service skills. The practice retains the right to revise the job duties at any time. Other duties may be assigned.
