Dental Back Office - Registered Dental Assistant

Unicare Community Health Center•Riverside, CA

11d

About The Position

Dental assistants work under the supervision of dentists and perform clinical, clerical, interpersonal, and technological duties in a dental office. The role includes chair-side assistance, expanded dental assisting functions, infection control, laboratory procedures, patient and community education, front-office support, and use of Electronic Health Records. The position may involve travel to other clinic sites and occasional Saturday work from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The employee must maintain professional standards, current licensure and certifications, patient confidentiality, and compliance with applicable regulations and organizational policies. The role requires English and Spanish language skills, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing priorities. Work involves exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, fumes or airborne particles, repetitive motions, and moderate noise. Physical duties include pushing and pulling objects up to 25 pounds, occasional lifting or moving up to 50 pounds, and frequent reaching, bending, kneeling, crouching, and fine-motor work. Outside screenings or health fairs may occasionally involve weather exposure.

Requirements

Successful completion of a dental assistant program.
At least one year of experience.
Successful completion of a radiation safety course.
CPR certification.
Maintain a current license, DEA registration, and BLS certification.
Comprehensive knowledge of dental assisting and of modern dentistry as it relates to public health organizations and community health programs.
Ability to read and write in English and Spanish.
Basic mathematical skills.
Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills; ability to convey spoken instructions accurately and quickly and communicate effectively with patients, staff, and medical providers.
Ability to hear patients, families, staff, medical providers, telephone, equipment, and alarms.
Visual ability to see clearly at 20 inches and 20 feet, focus, judge distances, and use peripheral vision.
Ability to solve practical problems and interpret written, oral, diagrammed, or scheduled instructions.
Ability to multitask, adapt to an ambiguous and fast-moving environment, set priorities, and find solutions.
Integrity, credibility, commitment to the organizational mission, and ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team.
Ability to travel occasionally to other clinic sites for work or meetings.
Ability to perform fine motor tasks without tremor and to push or pull up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
Ability to perform duties involving a full range of body motion, including twisting, reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

Responsibilities

Assist dentists in providing dental treatment.
Prepare and maintain dental instruments, supplies, and equipment.
Collect and record patient health histories and vital signs.
Manage patients during dental procedures, transfer instruments, and use dental procedure isolation techniques.
Prepare dental materials, including cements, amalgam, composites, and impression materials.
Perform dental charting and help prevent and manage dental medical emergencies.
Control and manage inventory.
Take dental X-rays, apply topical fluoride treatments, and place topical medications.
Manage the dental office infection-control plan to meet OSHA, CDC, and ADA standards.
Clean, sterilize or disinfect, and recirculate instruments; disinfect dental treatment rooms.
Pour impressions to make stone and plaster models, trim models, and fabricate mouth guards, bleaching trays, fluoride trays, and custom impression trays.
Deliver personal oral-care instructions and explain dentist-determined treatment plans.
Deliver community dental health presentations and plan and set up health-fair booths.
Schedule and confirm appointments; handle reception and patient records.
Manage business records, follow accounting and bookkeeping procedures, process patient insurance, prepare written business communications, and handle dental department marketing.
Assist patients with forms and other needed services; interpret for patients, providers, and staff as needed.
Maintain full and productive schedules for dental providers.
Travel to other locations as needed, attend meetings and training sessions, and collaborate with other departments.
Use Electronic Health Records to deliver care.
Perform other related or necessary tasks as directed by the Dental Director.
Maintain a neat appearance, current license, DEA registration, and BLS certification; protect patient confidentiality and comply with regulatory requirements and organizational policies.
Report to work on time, represent the organization professionally, communicate its mission and goals, and participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities.
Work occasional Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.