Dental Assistant / Registered Dental Assistant - Spanish Speaking Preferred (Open and Promotional)

County of San Mateo; San Mateo (CA); On-site; Full time

Job summary

The County of San Mateo is seeking dedicated Dental Assistants to provide exceptional dental care in a collaborative environment. Ideal candidates will have experience in chairside assisting and a commitment to serving diverse communities. Positions available are full-time and part-time, with a preference for Spanish speakers.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in chairside assisting and digital X-rays.
• Valid California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for examination and treatment.
• Take and develop dental X-rays.
• Maintain dental/medical records and schedule appointments.

Skills

Chairside Assisting

Digital X-rays

Maintaining Sterile Environment

Fluency in Spanish

Education

Completion of a course of instruction for dental assistants

California Registered Dental Assistant License

Tools

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

EPIC

Job description

Note: This recruitment schedule was amended on March 18, 2025 to extend the Final Filing Date. This recruitment has been changed to "Continuous."

Are you a dedicated and motivated Dental Assistant who enjoys being part of a team of professionals who provide exceptional dental care to the community and patients in need? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, challenging environment where the rewards are many? If so, then theSan Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) Dental Clinics have an exciting career opportunity for you!

The San Mateo Medical Center operates five dental clinics located in San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City, and Half Moon Bay, along with a Mobile Dental Clinic. These clinics provide dental care for children and adults, including homeless and transitional populations. Pregnant women on Medi-Cal and patients with an HIV diagnosis also receive dental services at these clinics, with coverage available through the Ryan White grant.

All Clinics are open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM and some Saturdays and evenings. The Fair Oaks Health Center hosts UCSF dental students, while both the Fair Oaks Health Center and the Mobile Dental Clinic host UOP dental students to aid in patient care.

The Dental Assistant Series levels include:

Dental Assistant ($28.14 - $35.16 Hourly) is the experienced level class in the Dental Assistant series, competent to independently perform the full range of journey-level dental assisting work under the supervision of a dentist. This class is flexibly staffed with the Registered Dental Assistant and incumbents may advance to the higher level after obtaining required certification and demonstrating the required proficiency for the higher level.

Registered Dental Assistant ($33.26 - $41.58 Hourly) is the advanced journey-level classification in the series. Under the supervision of a dentist, incumbents at this level perform dental assisting duties which are limited to a person certified as a Registered Dental Assistant in addition to performing Dental Assistant duties of the lower level.

We are seeking Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Assistants who are motivated and demonstrate the willingness to learn and adapt to new situations. All Dental Assistants and Registered Dental Assistants rotate and should be available to work at any of our dental clinics. Transportation to each work site is the employee's responsibility. The current vacancies aretwo, Full-Time, Regular positions and threePart-Time, Extra-Help positions. Spanish speaking is preferred, but not required.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled and compassionate professional with a strong commitment to providing high-quality dental care to underserved communities. This includes children, adults, individuals experiencing homelessness, and patients with complex medical needs. Ideal candidates will also have:

• Proficiency in chairside assisting, digital X-rays, mixing dental materials, and maintaining a sterile environment. Registered Dental Assistants should also have additional skills such as coronal polishing and sealant application.
• Experience using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems, with a strong preference for EPIC.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while remaining composed when handling patient emergencies or high patient volumes.
• A valid California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) license.
• Capability to conduct oral inspections and provide preventive services, including coronal polishing and topical fluoride application.
• Ability to provide chairside assistance in all phases of clinical dentistry, including oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, and other specialized procedures.
• Experience in testing pulp health, fabricating temporary fillings and crowns, and re-cementing dislodged temporary restorations.
• Competency in assisting with the administration ofNitrous sedation.
• Fluency in Spanish (reading, writing, and speaking) is highly desirable.

This role requires a dedicated professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and is passionate about improving oral health outcomes for diverse and vulnerable populations.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepare patients for examination, treatment or surgery; arrange dental instruments, equipment and accessories on trays; set up medical and dental charts and X-rays.
• Take, develop and mount dental X-rays; maintain cleanliness of the X-ray room.
• Maintain dental/medical records of patient examinations and treatments, dental charts and medical histories; complete insurance forms; schedule return appointments for patients; schedule patients per provider request.
• Maintain office, operatories and equipment in sanitary and orderly condition; clean, oil, and prepare dental equipment for sterilization.
• Mix dental medicaments.
• Follow prescribed procedures in response to patient emergencies during treatment such as gagging, vomiting, convulsions, etc.; clean patients' air passages, remove obstacles from mouth and support head.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Preparation of patients for examination.
• Methods of use, care and sterilization of instruments and equipment.
• Dental hygiene instruction and prophylaxis or coronal polish (for RDA level)
• Dental X-ray techniques and safety procedures.
• Dental terminology.
• Office procedures and record keeping.

Skill/Ability to:

• Take, develop and evaluate dental X-rays.
• Work tactfully with patients and other personnel under stressful conditions.
• Respond appropriately to patient emergencies during treatment or surgery.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Completion of a course of instruction for dental assistants.

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a Certificate of examination for radiation safety from the California Board of Dental Examiners.
• Possession of a Certificate of completion for a course in Basic Life Support as approved by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
• To qualify for the Registered Dental Assistant Level, possession of a valid California License as Registered Dental Assistant issued by the California Board of Dental Examiners.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination will consist of an interview (weight: 100%) which may include the evaluation of a written or performance exercise given immediately preceding the interview. The interview may be comprised of a combined Civil Service and departmental panel process. Depending on the number of applications, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations, or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position based solely on the information provided in the application materials. Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online.If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply"button. If you are not on the County's website, please go tohttp://jobs.smcgov.org to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight (unless otherwise stated) on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE:

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.

About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Debbie Kong (03042025) (Dental Assistant/Registered Dental Assistant - F039/F063)