Dental Assistant

Camino Health Center; San Juan Capistrano (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Camino Health Center in California seeks a qualified Dental Assistant to support pediatric dental services and clinic operations. You will assist the dentist, document treatments, and educate patients while maintaining infection control standards.

Responsibilities include managing appointments, handling patient records, and contributing to outreach efforts. The role emphasizes teamwork, adaptability, and delivering patient-centered care in a busy community clinic.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Valid Dental Assistant Certificate with radiology and infection control certification; BLS valid.
• Two years of experience in pediatric dental settings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the staff dentist with extra-oral and intra-oral duties as directed.
• Record patient treatment in the electronic dental record.
• Provide oral hygiene education to patients and caretakers.
• Take high-quality digital radiographs.
• Set up trays for procedures and maintain infection control in operatories.
• Manage appointment schedule, check-in/out, and insurance verification.
• Coordinate community outreach and assist with screenings.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Customer focus

Adaptability

Change management

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Dignity

Demonstrates competence in communication and interpersonal relations

Excellence

Demonstrates competence in continuous improvement, continuous learning, and teamwork/collaboration

Service

Demonstrates competence in customer/patient focus, adaptability, and shaping change

Justice

Demonstrates competence in community orientation, stewardship, and strategic planning and action

Essential Functions

• Assist in providing extra-oral and intra-oral duties as directed by the staff dentist.
• Assist in recording patient treatment in the electronic dental record.
• Provide oral hygiene education to patients and caretakers.
• Takes high quality and clinically appropriate digital radiographs

Back Office Duties

• Sets up trays for procedures.
• Properly cleans all dental instruments and maintains operatories in a safe and workable condition. Notify appropriate team members about supplies needing to be ordered and equipment requiring repairs.
• Sterilizes all instruments according to infection control regulations. Lubricates and oils hand-pieces before and after sterilization.
• Ensures compliance with infection control procedures as mandated by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Front Office Duties

• Maintain dental schedule; including making appointments and reminder calls.
• Answer dental phones calls and return voice messages.
• Maintain electronic patient filing system, including establishing new patient records and scanning paper records and x-rays into the electronic dental record.
• Maintain patient records in the practice management system, including updating patient demographic and contact information.
• Check-in responsibilities, including acknowledging appointments and verifying patient information.
• Check-out responsibilities, including insurance verification and cash collection. Responsible for assessing and documenting patient eligibility to participate in the health center’s sliding fee discount program
• Work collaboratively with the dental team to ensure optimal workflow and department goals are achieved.

Outreach, In-reach, and Education

• Assist with coordination of external dental screenings, facilitate and maintain a positive rapport with parents, school staff, childcare providers and community agencies.
• Assist with community dental outreach opportunities which may include, but are not limited to: parent education classes in selected sites, Community Outreach Programs sponsored by other agencies serving the target population and pre-school dental screenings.
• Conduct in-reach activities to identifying new patients using other Camino services who could also benefit for the dental program. When possible coordinate same day care for these patients.
• Facilitate the collection of surveys and questionnaires required by funders or through community partnerships.
• Participation in continuing education events.

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor

Minimum Position Qualifications

• Education: High School diploma or GED required
• License / Certification:Valid Dental Assistant Certificate, including radiology and infection control certification; valid and current BLS certification

Preferred Position Qualifications

• Experience / Training: Two years of experience working in a pediatric dental office or community clinic.

Physical and Personal Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs.
• Must have reliable transportation to report for shifts.