DESIREE LOPEZ
Albuquerque,NM
Summary
I take pride in my work and my punctuality when it comes to Dental and the offices I work at. My main Goal is to better not only myself but the Pts I see on a regular basis. With 15 yrs of experience I love making people smile and I love helping people get to where they want to be when it comes to their Oral health. I love educating pts on the importance oral health. I enjoy making peoples lives brighter one smile at a time.
Dental professional with solid foundation in dental assisting, skilled in supporting dental procedures and patient care. Proven ability to adapt to dynamic work environments and collaborate effectively with dental teams. Known for attention to detail and excellent communication skills, fostering positive experience for patients and colleagues.
Diligent dental assistant with comprehensive background in dental assisting. Successfully supported dental procedures and ensured patient comfort, contributing to improved practice efficiency. Demonstrated competence in sterilization techniques and patient record management, consistently maintaining high standards of care.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Dental Assistant
Valer Dental
02.2023 - Current
- Cleaned and sanitized dental tools and equipment, straightened treatment rooms, and restocked supplies to prep for next patient and maintain health and safety practices.
- Maintained a clean and sterile work environment to prevent cross-contamination and infection.
- Sanitized trays, instruments, and surfaces for clean dental office setting and patient safety.
- Provided chairside assistance during examinations, improving dentist efficiency and patient satisfaction.
- Performed x-rays safely while adhering to radiation safety guidelines, ensuring high-quality diagnostic images for dentists'' evaluations.
- Prepared and arranged instruments, medications, and required materials for dental procedures.
- Successfully assisted dentist by performing four-handed dentistry and other chair-side duties.
- Sterilized rooms and prepped equipment and instruments for [Number] procedures daily.
- Performed general chair-side duties for general dentistry, endo procedures, and oral surgery.
- Assisted dentists with complex procedures, ensuring optimal patient care and treatment outcomes.
- Documented patient dental health information, medical history, and vital signs for future reference.
- Assisted dentists, hygienists, and other personnel by handing appropriate tools and supplies needed for procedures.
- Prepared instruments and equipment for use in dental procedures, ensuring their availability when needed.
- Explained treatment procedures and instructed patients on home care guidelines.
- Maintained dental supply inventory by checking stock to determine inventory levels and placing and expediting orders for supplies.
- Prepared patient x-rays and images for dentist review.
- Took dental images following strict patient protection rules, applying lead aprons.
- Recorded patients' health histories, documented current symptoms, and pulled up records from prior visits for dentists to view and evaluate.
- Supported dentists during oral surgeries by preparing surgical rooms with necessary tools and sterilized instruments.
- Educated patients on proper oral hygiene techniques, promoting long-term dental health.
- Increased patient retention by building rapport through excellent communication skills and a friendly demeanor.
- Contributed to office organization by maintaining accurate patient records and updating files regularly.
- Reduced appointment cancellations by implementing reminder calls and text messaging services, resulting in improved scheduling efficiency.
- Handled administrative tasks such as billing, insurance claims processing, and appointment confirmation calls to support office operations efficiently.
- Collaborated with the dental team to develop customized treatment plans for individual patients.
- Conducted preliminary assessments of new patients, gathering crucial information for accurate diagnoses.
- Collaborated with dental team to develop treatment plans, ensuring patient needs were met comprehensively.
- Implemented waste reduction initiatives in clinic, promoting environmental sustainability.
- Improved patient care with meticulous attention to instrument sterilization and preparation.
- Supported dental procedures, ensuring efficient operation and patient satisfaction.
- Enhanced team productivity by providing timely assistance during complex dental procedures.
Dental Assistant
Comfort Dental of Coronado
07.2020 - 02.2023
- Assist DDS w/ pt procedures and pt
- Education
- Assist DDS with Oral Surgery Extractions of wisdom teeth or any teeth that need ext
- Take X-rays for exams or when Dr
- Needs them
- Take impressions for dentures or partials, and mouth guards
- Pour up models with stone and send to lab for Dr
- Prophy Cleaning, topical fluoride, sealants, Root Canal Treatment
- Help place crowns or fixed partials/ bridges
- Dry socket Treatment
- Assist DDS prep teeth that need amalgam or composite fillings
- OSHA compliance, HIPPA Compliance
- Setting up op trays for Dr
- Tearing down dirty rooms for next pts
- Assist with sterilization using mid mark 11 or statum auto claves
- Radiology Certified, BLS Certified
- Put in notes for DDS, and use of digital x rays
- Assist DDS with any other needs they need
- Now with COVID, we have to be more diligent on sanitation and cleanliness
- We not only need to protect ourselves but most importantly our pts
- I also do CEs on my spare time to keep updated on OSHA Radiology ECT
Dental Assistant
Tru Care Dental
04.2019 - 07.2020
Dental Assistant
AB Staffing/ HIS ACL/ Laguna Dental of Acoma Pueblo
11.2018 - 04.2019
Dental Assistant
A to Z Children's Dental clinic of Grants
03.2016 - 11.2018
Medical Clerk
Corizon Health (Western Correctional Facility)
11.2015 - 03.2016
Dental Assistant
A to Z Children's Dental Clinic
06.2015 - 11.2015
Correctional Officer
Cibola County Detention Center
04.2014 - 05.2015
Correctional Officer
New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility
05.2011 - 04.2014
Dental Assistant
Western Dental
01.2010 - 04.2011
- Company Overview: Ortho and General practice
- Ortho and General practice
Externship
Walnut Dental Group
12.2009 - 01.2010
Cashier
Jack in the Box
06.2005 - 04.2009
Baggage Handler/ Ramp Agent
Delta Airlines (GAT)
06.2005 - 04.2009
Education
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA -
MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL
01.2005
DENTAL CERTIFIACTES AND DENTAL LICENSES -
AMERICAN CAREER COLLEGE
12.2009
Skills
- Coronal polish
- Topical fluoride
- Sealants
- Prophy Cleanings
- Rubber dam
- Tolffemire placements
- Papoose knowledge
- X rays
- Digital X rays
- Amalgam Fillings
- Composite Fillings
- Oral Surgery Removal of Wisdom teeth
- Model trimming
- Root Canal Treatment
- Dry Socket Treatment
- Impressions for study models
- Impressions for retainer and or appliances
- Impressions for Mouth Guards
- Impressions for dentures
- Impressions for partials
- Pt education
- Sterilization
- Setting up and Tearing down rooms for each pt
- Handpiece care
- Great communication skills w/ children
- Great communication skills w/ elderly
- Great communication skills w/ special needs pts
- Computer charting
- Digital charting
- Paper charting
- Ortho Knowledge
- Placing of separators
- Placing comfort ties
- Placing/removing ligature ties
- Placing/removing wires
- Placing appliances for pt
- Appliance education
- Placing ligature Ties
- Placing Figure 8's
- Education on head gear
- Ortho Pt education
- Pedo knowledge
- Pedo pt education
- Assist DDS with papoose board
- Dental impressions
- Dental radiography
- Digital X-ray proficiency
- Equipment sterilization
Accomplishments
- Mentored over 20 dental assistants.
- Negotiated with suppliers and ordered inventories and supplies in bulk, saving office money
Activities
- Volunteer for New Mexico Mission of Mercy with the New Mexico Dental Association.
- Do a lot of outdoor activities with my children such as hiking, fishing, hunting.
- I love spending all my extra time with my kids and family.
Certification
- Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) - NM Dental Board.
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Dental Assistant
Valer Dental
02.2023 - Current
Dental Assistant
Comfort Dental of Coronado
07.2020 - 02.2023
Dental Assistant
Tru Care Dental
04.2019 - 07.2020
Dental Assistant
AB Staffing/ HIS ACL/ Laguna Dental of Acoma Pueblo
11.2018 - 04.2019
Dental Assistant
A to Z Children's Dental clinic of Grants
03.2016 - 11.2018
Medical Clerk
Corizon Health (Western Correctional Facility)
11.2015 - 03.2016
Dental Assistant
A to Z Children's Dental Clinic
06.2015 - 11.2015
Correctional Officer
Cibola County Detention Center
04.2014 - 05.2015
Correctional Officer
New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility
05.2011 - 04.2014
Dental Assistant
Western Dental
01.2010 - 04.2011
Externship
Walnut Dental Group
12.2009 - 01.2010
Cashier
Jack in the Box
06.2005 - 04.2009
Baggage Handler/ Ramp Agent
Delta Airlines (GAT)
06.2005 - 04.2009
DENTAL CERTIFIACTES AND DENTAL LICENSES -
AMERICAN CAREER COLLEGE
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA -
MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL
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