Registered Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant
About The Position
The Registered Dental Assistant prepares patients for treatment and assists dentists with clinical procedures. The role supports patient flow, completes initial patient-visit tasks, prepares and disinfects operatories, documents patient information, operates dental radiographic equipment, sterilizes instruments, and assists with a range of dental treatments. It also performs authorized supportive and advanced dental procedures under a dentist’s supervision, provides oral-health education and post-treatment instructions, and helps maintain supplies, equipment, sterilization processes, logs, and biohazard disposal. The position may include maintaining and driving a mobile dental unit to designated locations, including after-hours and weekends, assisting passengers, and maintaining vehicle records. The employee may be assigned to any FHCN location based on business needs and must follow the attendance policy and perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Effective June 1, 2026, demonstrate work-related skills above high-school completion, including written and verbal communication, computational and computer skills, mathematics, and technical skills.
- Effective June 1, 2026, provide proof of high-school completion with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or GED completion with a minimum overall score of 162.5, and have healthcare-related knowledge typically acquired through a trade-school, paraprofessional, or certificate-type program.
- Effective June 1, 2026, have two years of experience or successful completion of a dental assistant externship with Family HealthCare Network.
- Provide proof of completing a Radiation Safety Course.
- Be licensed as a Registered Dental Assistant in California.
- Prepare complex Microsoft Word documents, including tables, charts, and graphs; use Microsoft Excel to review and compile data using standard spreadsheet features; and create basic Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.
- Compile information into effective written materials, including correspondence, reports, articles, or other documentation, and convey technical information effectively to non-technical audiences.
- Meet the physical demands of regularly standing or walking and using repetitive hand movements to type and grasp; frequently bending, twisting, squatting, climbing, kneeling, reaching above and below shoulder height, and moving items up to 20 pounds.
Nice To Haves
- A coronal polish certificate is recommended.
Responsibilities
- Support and monitor patient flow in the back office, including preparing for appointments, distributing patients among providers, communicating wait times, and assisting with scheduling and front-office workflows.
- Greet patients, escort them to the operatory, obtain vital signs and patient data, review and update health records, document visits, and ensure consent forms are completed.
- Operate dental radiographic equipment and disinfect and prepare operatories, trays, and dental instruments.
- Sterilize instruments and assist dentists with charting and restorative, prosthodontic, endodontic, oral surgery, periodontal, and pediatric procedures.
- Help patients feel comfortable, provide post-treatment and oral-care instructions, offer oral-health education, and explain dental procedures as appropriate.
- Perform authorized supportive dental procedures, including taking impressions, applying topical agents and fluoride, removing dressings, placing and removing rubber dams, and placing wedges and removing matrices.
- Under dentist supervision, perform authorized advanced duties, such as oral-cavity inspection and charting, temporary dressings and crowns, pulp vitality testing, placement of bases and liners, coronal polishing, and application of pit and fissure sealants after completing the required course.
- Use caries detection devices and materials to gather information for the dentist’s diagnosis.
- Communicate with patients and suppliers, schedule appointments, order supplies, and coordinate equipment repairs.
- Prepare and stock operatories; monitor supplies; dispose of biohazard waste and sharps; test and clean sterilization equipment; clean dental-unit water lines; and maintain accurate, timely logs.
- When assigned, clean, restock, and maintain the mobile dental unit; dump its septic tank, refuel it, drive it to designated locations, maintain vehicle and DMV records, assist passengers, and report vehicle safety or maintenance issues.
- Work at any FHCN location as required by business needs and comply with attendance requirements.
- Perform other duties as assigned or required for quality of care.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
