2026

United Indian Health Se•Arcata, CA

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Works directly with the dentist and the dental healthcare team to provide quality oral healthcare for United Indian Health Service (UIHS) clients. This role involves various levels of responsibility, from basic dental assisting functions to more advanced procedures and mentorship, depending on the specific level (I, II, or III). The position requires adherence to the Dental Board of California's Dental Practice Act and a willingness to learn about American Indian culture.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required.
Must complete within one (1) year from date of employment the following: A Dental Board of California approved course in the Dental Practice Act.
Must complete within one (1) year from date of employment the following: A Dental Board of California approved 8-hour course in infection control.
Must complete within one (1) year from date of employment the following: A course in basic life support offered by an instructor approved by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association and must maintain certification.
Dental Assistant (DA) who has successfully met and demonstrated all Level I required education/work experience to qualify and be eligible for Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) examination and/or a graduate of a Dental Board of California approved dental assisting program and has successfully passed the Dental Board of California RDA exams within twelve (12) months of hire (Level II).
Must possess a Dental Board of California Dental X-ray certificate (Level II).
Must possess a Dental Board of California approved coronal polish course certificate (Level II).
Must possess a current RDA license from the Dental Board of California (Level III).
Basic personal computer skills including electronic mail, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, etc.

Nice To Haves

Must be willing to learn more about the American Indian culture and attend at least one Cultural Presentation/ Training per year.

Responsibilities

Seats and prepares clients pre and post treatment.
Assists dentist in anesthetic administration.
Responsible for sterilization and disinfection of instruments, treatment rooms and as assigned.
Prepares and delivers dental materials.
Takes and records medical and dental histories and vital signs of clients.
Records and maintains client’s electronic health record and or hard copy records and dental encounters.
Ships, receives, and coordinates laboratory casework for clients.
Takes preliminary impressions for diagnostic and opposing study casts.
Assists dentist and dental team in management of medical and dental emergencies.
Assists in providing preventive dental education to clients and community groups as directed.
Provides postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
Travels to satellite facilities to complete dental tasks as needed.
Actively cross-trains to assist dental office staff as required.
Performs routine maintenance on equipment and determines when and what kind of maintenance is required.
Adheres to accreditation and compliance standards/guidelines.
Maintains a professional organized clean working environment by following organizational policies, guidelines, and safety standards.
Ability to work under the general/direct supervision of a dentist in a team setting.
Performs other tasks as assigned.
Performs all duties in accordance with the UIHS Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles.
Performs dental x-rays (Level II and III).
Performs coronal polish (Level II and III).
Attends organizational committee meetings and other meetings as assigned (Level II and III).
Assists in development of section policy, procedures, and quality improvement activities within services sections as directed (Level II and III).
Provides mentorship and training to Dental Assistant I (Level II).
Provides mentorship and training to Dental Assistant I and II (Level III).
Able to recommend changes to section policy, procedures, and quality improvement activities within service sections as directed (Level III).