Registered Dental Assistant

Salud Para la Gente • Watsonville, CA

7d

About The Position

Salud Para La Gente (SALUD) is seeking a dynamic, organized, and detail-oriented Registered Dental Assistant to assist the Dentist in providing dental services to patients in both front- and back-office settings. The role supports dentists and dental hygienists with chairside procedures, patient comfort, clinical and laboratory tasks, equipment maintenance, inventory, documentation, scheduling, and front-office needs. The ideal candidate is committed to SALUD’s mission of providing high-quality healthcare to patients of all ages and can follow the instructions of the Dental Director and/or dentist, communicate respectfully and effectively with patients, and assess patient complaints to determine whether to schedule, refer to a specialist, or treat as a walk-in.

The position requires the ability to work Saturdays and/or extended shifts when required and travel between clinic sites. SALUD is a primary healthcare network serving underserved communities in the Monterey Bay area, with 11 clinic sites and more than 400 employees. The salary range is $25.31 to $31.55 per hour. Benefits are available to regular SALUD employees working 24 or more hours per week; part-time employees may receive some benefits on a prorated basis.

Requirements

• Current Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) state license.
• X-ray license.
• Coronal polishing certification.
• Knowledge and experience working with dental patients and dental equipment.
• Knowledge of both front- and back-office dental procedures.
• Fluent in Spanish and English.
• Current CPR certification.
• Valid driver's license and current vehicle insurance.
• Ability to follow instructions from the Dental Director and/or dentist.
• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with all patients.
• Ability to work as a chairside Registered Dental Assistant and in the dental clinic front office.
• Ability to work Saturdays and/or extended shifts when required.
• Ability to travel between sites.

Nice To Haves

• Bicultural candidates preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist dentists and dental hygienists with chairside procedures and support patient comfort under the supervision of a dentist and/or dental director.
• Take blood pressure readings; prepare, develop, and label patient X-rays.
• Sterilize instruments and chairside supplies and maintain sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• Maintain the evacuation system, laboratory equipment, air compressor, and supplies.
• Assist with inventory control, including receiving and monitoring shipments, restocking dental materials, and ordering supplies.
• Document charts as instructed by the provider and assist with patient scheduling, patient charts, and the recall system.
• Pour and care for laboratory impressions and complete Lab RX forms as instructed by the provider.
• Maintain dental handpieces, equipment, and units; perform daily setup and shutdown of the dental delivery system.
• Take impressions for diagnostic and opposing models.
• Apply non-aerosol and non-caustic topical agents.
• Remove post-extraction and periodontal dressings.
• Place elastic orthodontic separators; hold anterior matrices and remove sutures.
• Apply topical fluoride after scaling and polishing.
• Place and remove rubber dams, place wedges, and remove matrices.
• Assist in the dental front office as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Assess patient complaints to determine whether to schedule, refer to a specialist, or treat as a walk-in.
• Work Saturdays and/or extended shifts when required.
• Travel between clinic sites.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for eligible employees.
• 19 days of paid time off per year.
• 13.5 paid holidays per year.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution.
• 403(b).
• Dependent-care flexible spending account (FSA).
• Voluntary long-term disability coverage.
• Temporary-assignment employees are eligible for prorated holiday pay and California sick pay.
• On-call employees are eligible for California sick pay prorated based on hours worked.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed