Registered Dental Assistant

Imperial Beach Community Clinic•Imperial Beach, CA

2d•$27 - $29•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) provides clinical and operational support to licensed dental providers in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), helping deliver safe, timely, equitable, and patient-centered oral health services. The RDA performs only duties authorized by California law and regulation, under the supervision and direction required by law and health center policy. Work may take place in the main dental clinic, mobile dental unit, and approved community-based outreach settings. The position supports the health center’s mission, applicable Health Center Program requirements, organizational policies, and quality and patient-safety initiatives. The role includes chairside assistance; preparation of treatment rooms, instruments, materials, and equipment; patient communication and support; infection prevention and sterilization; mobile-clinic and outreach operations; and accurate documentation and administrative support. The RDA must protect patient dignity, privacy, comfort, and safety, and must not diagnose, prescribe, independently treatment-plan, or exceed the legally authorized scope of practice. When a task, delegation, or supervision level is unclear, the employee must seek direction from the supervising dentist or Dental Director. This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Work is in person in a dental clinic, mobile dental unit, and occasionally approved community outreach locations. The role requires frequent standing and sitting, repetitive hand and wrist movements, bending, reaching, and maintaining clinical working postures. The employee may be required to move or lift dental supplies and equipment within health center policy limits. Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable law.

Requirements

Current, active California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license in good standing, issued by the Dental Board of California.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from a recognized provider, as required by the health center.
Current certifications or permits required for assigned duties, including radiographic certification and any applicable infection-control or law-and-ethics requirements.
Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with patients and coworkers from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ability to follow written protocols, maintain accurate records, protect confidential information, and work effectively in a team-based clinical setting.
Working knowledge of dental terminology, instruments, materials, chairside procedures, and infection-prevention principles.
Knowledge of patient confidentiality, privacy, safety, and professional boundaries.
Ability to prioritize tasks, adapt to changing clinical needs, communicate concerns promptly, and maintain composure in a busy, diverse, patient-centered environment.
Perform only duties permitted by the Dental Practice Act and applicable regulations, and only when required supervision, training, certification, and competency are in place.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in an FQHC, community health center, public health, or safety-net dental setting.
Experience with electronic dental or health records and standard dental practice workflows.
Experience supporting mobile dentistry, school-based services, or community outreach.
Bilingual skills relevant to the patient population; language proficiency may be assessed in accordance with organizational policy.

Responsibilities

Prepare treatment rooms, instruments, materials, and equipment before patient care and maintain readiness between patients.
Assist dentists during examinations and procedures using appropriate chairside techniques and only functions authorized for an RDA under California law.
Expose and process dental radiographs when appropriately certified, trained, and authorized; follow radiation-safety procedures and maintain required documentation.
Prepare, mix, and handle dental materials and assist with restorative, preventive, surgical, prosthodontic, and other procedures within legal scope and demonstrated competency.
Perform provisional crown and restoration procedures only when ordered by the supervising dentist, permitted by California law, and conducted with required supervision and approval.
Perform coronal polishing only when required education and qualifications are in place, under legally required supervision, and after a dentist or registered dental hygienist determines the teeth are free of calculus or other extraneous material.
Obtain and document patient information or measurements when assigned and legally permitted, and communicate relevant observations or concerns to the dentist.
Explain the assistant’s role to patients and reinforce dentist-approved postoperative and home-care instructions without diagnosing, treatment planning, or independently recommending treatment.
Protect patient dignity, privacy, comfort, and safety; report adverse events, injuries, incidents, and changes in patient condition through established channels.
Treat patients with dignity, respect, and cultural humility, without discrimination, and support access for patients with language needs, disabilities, limited resources, or other barriers.
Obtain qualified language assistance in accordance with policy and follow patient identification, check-in, handoff, referral, and care-coordination workflows.
Refer questions about fees, insurance, eligibility, and sliding fee discounts to designated registration or billing personnel; do not determine, negotiate, waive, or quote fees unless specifically assigned and trained.
Route clinical messages, referrals, records, and follow-up needs accurately to responsible staff.
Follow infection-control, exposure-control, OSHA, applicable CDC, and California requirements; clean and disinfect surfaces and process instruments according to manufacturer instructions and organizational procedures.
Complete assigned sterilizer monitoring, indicator documentation, and sterilization logs; report failed or questionable cycles and quarantine affected instruments.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow hand hygiene, sharps safety, instrument processing, and regulated medical waste procedures.
Immediately report occupational exposures, needlestick injuries, equipment failures, unsafe conditions, and workplace injuries.
Maintain clean, organized, accessible, and adequately stocked operatories and clinical work areas.
Support dental services in the mobile dental unit and at approved outreach events, including setup, breakdown, inventory, equipment checks, and securing the unit.
Follow patient escort and handoff procedures between the main clinic and mobile unit while maintaining privacy and safety; verify required supplies, emergency equipment, infection-control materials, and communication processes are available.
Complete accurate, timely, objective documentation in the electronic health record within assigned responsibilities; use individual credentials and do not share passwords.
Document services, materials, radiographs, patient communications, and other required information within the assistant’s role; do not attest to services not personally performed or verified.
Protect protected health information in accordance with HIPAA, state privacy laws, and organizational policies.
Participate in orientation, annual training, competency assessments, infection-control education, emergency preparedness activities, and quality-improvement initiatives.
Assist with supply inventory, equipment maintenance tracking, recall processes, audits, and reviews as assigned.
Support accurate encounter workflows and timely, complete, compliant records and billing; do not select codes, determine medical necessity, or submit claims unless separately authorized and trained.
Communicate professionally and respectfully with dental and health center personnel, attend team meetings, and participate in operational problem-solving and continuous quality improvement.
Perform other duties consistent with the position, training, competency, and applicable law as assigned.