Dental Assistant I Santa Monica
About The Position
The Dental Assistant I provides chairside support to the dentist during general dental procedures, takes diagnostic-quality dental X-rays within the permitted scope, and helps ensure accurate clinical documentation in Open Dental. The role prepares patients, operatories, instruments, materials, and procedure setups, and helps maintain efficient patient flow and provider schedules. The position also includes instrument sterilization, lab-case and supply organization, ordering supplies through Dentira as needed, and completing routine office housekeeping. When the front office is busy, the assistant may help check in patients, answer phones and questions, give new-patient tours, and escort patients to operatories. The assistant is expected to support a welcoming patient experience, help manage patient flow, remain receptive to feedback, and contribute to office events, social work, and marketing efforts.
Requirements
- Current California Dental Radiation Safety (X-Ray) Certificate.
- Six months to two years of experience, as indicated in the posting.
Responsibilities
- Assist the dentist during procedures and provide chairside assistance during general dental procedures, anticipating basic provider needs.
- Enter the doctor’s treatment plan and required clinical information into charts and support completion of documentation in Open Dental.
- Take diagnostic-quality dental X-rays within the permitted scope and ensure images are properly captured and documented.
- Assist with suction, isolation, instrument transfer, material preparation, and other permitted chairside duties.
- Prepare operatories, instruments, materials, and procedure setups before each patient; turn over and disinfect operatories promptly.
- Seat and prepare patients, review basic medical history information, and support a comfortable patient experience.
- Sterilize instruments and keep cassettes organized.
- Ensure lab cases are in the office and monitor dental supplies; organize extra supplies and order supplies through Dentira as needed.
- Prepare rooms for the next day and patients, and mark them on the schedule.
- Provide warm towels to patients, check in patients when the front office is busy, and escort them to operatories.
- Give new-patient tours, answer patient questions to the best of your ability, and answer phones within two rings when the front office is busy.
- Keep operatories organized and clean, maintain cleanliness in check-in/check-out areas and throughout floors, lights, and doors, and complete daily, weekly, and monthly back-office housekeeping.
- Manage patient flow, arrive on time, stay until close, build schedules for productive days, and be willing to work as needed.
- Listen to feedback and grow; recommend new patients to the offices, refer new staff to the recruiting team, and volunteer for events, social work, and marketing efforts.
- Promptly communicate supply, equipment, or clinical-flow issues.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
