About the position
La Clnica de La Raza is a community-based health center committed to providing culturally appropriate high-quality and accessible health care to the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay Area. We have spent over 40 years advocating for and creating a health home for the many that have been denied access to care. As health care activists, we are dedicated to making sure individuals who do not have health coverage get the same level of quality healthcare as those who have it. From our genesis as a community health center in 1971, we understood that we cannot heal our communities without also addressing the economic and social factors that affect health. Many times this requires that we go outside and provide services in other settings to build the bridge that links individuals to our health center for preventive and primary care. Over 90,000 individuals come to La Clnica because it is a welcoming place that addresses the whole person, coordinating and connecting them to a broad network of services to improve and maintain their health and well-being. While we are still known for our activism and spirit of social justice, we are also proud to have grown into a sophisticated provider of primary health care services with 35 sites across Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. We are looking for Dental Assistants who want to serve as a valuable member of our care team by working alongside dentists in four-handed dentistry. In our dental practice, you will be relied on for your superb technical skills to improve the quality and efficiency of our clinic while at the same time providing a human touch to the overall patient experience.
Responsibilities
- Manage patient flow to maximize patient access and service by ensuring dental exam rooms are adequately stocked and ready for patients.
- Prepare patients for dental examination by taking and recording vital signs and medical-dental histories.
- Help patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment.
- Effectively communicate requests from patients to dentist or dental care team members.
- Assist the dentist during a variety of treatment procedures such as taking dental x-rays.
- Clean, sterilize, and maintain an adequate supply of functioning instruments and equipment.
- Prepare instruments, materials, and medication for use in dental procedures.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Provide patients with instructions for oral care following surgery or other dental treatment procedures.
- Provide prescription information to pharmacies as directed by the dentist.
- Record treatment information in patient records using Electronic Dental Records system.
- Demonstrate a commitment to excellent patient experience and quality outcomes.
- Communicate and work effectively with providers and other members of the dental care team.
- Contribute to a welcoming clinical space and healthy work environment.
- Engaged participation in huddles, staff meetings, team building activities, and assigned development opportunities.
- Continue professional development through participation in educational opportunities.
- Adhere to La Clnica's ethical and professional standards.
Requirements
- High School diploma or GED.
- X-ray license.
- 1-2 years of experience as a Dental Assistant.
- Completion of Dental Assistant Training Program preferred.
- Licensed DADA, DAII, RDA; DAIII RDA Extended Function; DAIV RDA Extended Function.
- Certification for health clearances required of all healthcare professionals.
Nice-to-haves
- Bilingual proficiency.
- Ability to work across cultures and demonstrate support of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Flexibility in accepting change gracefully.
