Dental Assistant

Open Door Community Health Centers•Fortuna, CA

15d•$26 - $37

About The Position

The Dental Assistant (DA) provides chair-side support to dentists and dental hygienists as part of a collaborative, patient-centered care team. The DA advocates for patients and assists with their care within the California DA Scope of Practice. The role requires a basic understanding and demonstration of DA tasks, with support and additional training as outlined in the essential duties and responsibilities. New hires start at the base wage for the position; job experience and other requirements may qualify a hire for a higher step. The listed hourly wage range is $26.00 to $34.06 for Dental Assistants and $28.00 to $36.71 for Registered Dental Assistants. Hmong and Spanish speakers who pass a language exam receive a minimum of $0.75 added to their wage. The Dental Assistant reports directly to the Administrative Site Director and is an integral member of the Dental care team. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Completion of an accredited Dental Assistant training program or two or more years of dental assistant experience.
Current CPR certification.
Certificate of completion or degree from an accredited Dental Assistant training program, or evidence of equivalent related experience and/or training as a Dental Assistant.
Dental Radiography Certificate.
Infection Control and OSHA Certificate.
Ability to promote effective communication between patients and dental providers.
Ability to accurately chart patient information.
Ability to handle difficult or confrontational situations calmly, consistently, and equitably.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish constructive professional working relationships among a diverse workforce.
Ability to work as part of a team, communicate or solicit pertinent information from other team members, support team decisions, and work independently when needed.
Excellent written and verbal interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish constructive working relationships with management and employees from varied backgrounds.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to represent ODCHC’s interests in the community and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers and public, private, and professional groups.
Strong computer skills, particularly with Microsoft Office Suite and/or Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
Ability to exercise sound and responsible judgment.
Ability to communicate by telephone, video, and/or in person; vision adequate to read documents, computer screens, and forms; ability to remain stationary for extended periods; lift, carry, or otherwise move up to 25 pounds; good manual dexterity; use a keyboard and view computer screens for extended periods; travel locally and long-distance as needed; and move around offices and clinics as needed.

Responsibilities

Prepare patients for procedures and provide chair-side assistance to dentists.
Assist with procedures for which the DA is adequately trained, including cleanings, fillings, root canals, crowns, extractions, dentures, and coronal polishing.
Take, develop, and mount X-rays; use Scanx, sensors, and the panorex machine as qualified; and import and export images.
Check patients’ blood sugars.
Accurately file patient dental information in charts.
Educate patients on proper dental care.
Clean and stock operatories between patient visits in accordance with dentists’ practices and OSHA compliance guidelines.
Wrap equipment for autoclaving, operate autoclaves correctly, and mix and use cleaning solutions as required for each test.
Follow universal precautions, including handwashing and appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Respond to medical emergencies according to safety procedures and scope of practice.
Keep operatories, hallways, and other areas clean.
Adhere to the basic California DA Scope of Practice.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as designated by the supervisor.