Melissa Ziman
Hickory Hills
Summary
Compassionate dental assistant with a strong background in patient education and chair-side support. Known for exceptional organizational skills and commitment to maintaining high standards of cleanliness and infection control, ready to enhance patient satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Dental assistant
Family dentistry
Chicago
03.2006 - Current
- Prepared treatment rooms for patient procedures and ensured cleanliness standards.
- Assisted dentists during examinations and various dental procedures.
- Managed patient records and maintained confidentiality of information.
- Sterilized instruments and adhered to infection control protocols consistently.
- Scheduled appointments and coordinated patient flow in a busy dental office.
- Provided chair-side assistance during dental procedures, including passing instruments to the dentist and holding suction devices.
- Sanitized equipment, cleaned treatment rooms and restocked supplies after each patient's treatment to maintain cleanliness and prepare for next patient.
- Performed administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, answering telephones and updating patient records.
- Assisted in laboratory procedures such as mixing impression materials or pouring casts from impressions taken by dentists.
- Provided support services such as stocking rooms with supplies, cleaning trays and changing linens between patients.
- Educated patients on treatment procedures and post-procedure home care.
- Documented patient records with procedures performed and added notes taken to charts.
- Gathered and reviewed patient records, data and health history to share with dentists for quick and accurate patient assessments, diagnoses and treatment.
- Took preliminary impressions of patient teeth to prepare for custom impressions and fabrication of permanent dental work.
- Responded promptly to requests from other staff members or dentists while maintaining a professional demeanor.
- Conducted routine maintenance of equipment used in dentistry operations.
- Assisted dentist in providing dental treatment to patients, including taking patient medical histories and vital signs.
- Reviewed patient charts prior to visits to ensure that all relevant information was available for the doctor's review.
- Took patient blood pressure, pulse and temperature and accurately recorded results in patient charts.
- Built loyal patient following and retained return patients by providing empathetic and caring service.
- Prepared patients by explaining scheduled treatments and potential side effects.
- Explained dental services and payment plans to help patients make informed decisions.
- Followed dentists' directions for giving patients desensitizing agents to prepare for anesthetic administration.
- Checked with participants throughout procedures to help alleviate anxiety.
- Applied sealants and protective coatings to teeth to protect enamel and prevent cavities.
- Maintained a neat, clean and organized environment throughout the office.
- Prepared dental materials such as amalgam, composite resin, impression material and cements for use by the dentist.
- Prepared treatment rooms and sterilized dental instruments for patient procedures.
- Assisted dentists during examinations and minor surgical procedures with care.
- Educated patients on oral hygiene practices and post-treatment care instructions.
- Maintained inventory of dental supplies and ordered replacements as needed.
- Greeted patients upon arrival at the office and escorted them to an examination room.
- Took bitewing, periapical, panoramic and occlusal X-rays and prepared for dentists to review.
- Ensured compliance with infection control policies and procedures.
- Passed instruments to dentist, gently sprayed water, suctioned fluids and mixed materials to support dentists during procedures.
- Gathered and documented patient medical and dental histories and vital signs.
Education
Morainevalley
Palos Hills, ILSkills
- Chair-side assistance
- Patient record management
- Infection control protocols
- Dental procedure preparation
- X-ray administration
- Appointment scheduling
- Customer relationship management
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Attention to detail
- Dental impression specialist
- Chairside assistance
- Disinfecting rooms and equipment
Timeline
Dental assistant
Family dentistry
03.2006 - Current
Morainevalley