Dental Assistant - Registered Dental Assistant - Temp - DA - RDA

Vista Community Clinic; Oceanside (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation & benefits

Medical, dental, vision

Company-paid life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

403(b) retirement plan

Job summary

Vista Community Clinic (VCC) seeks a Registered Dental Assistant to support dentists with four-handed dentistry and patient prep. Under clinical supervision, you will assist in impressions, fluoride application, sutures, nitrous oxide, and radiography, ensuring smooth patient flow from reception to operatories.

Requirements include bilingual English/Spanish, RDA exam, coronal polishing, radiation safety, CPR/BLS, and at least two years of high-volume dental experience.

Qualifications

• High school graduate with post high school vocational training.
• Bilingual English/Spanish is required.
• Certification of Completion of Registered Dental Assistant Exam.
• Coronal Polishing Certificate and Radiation Safety Certificate.
• Current CPR/BLS Certification.
• Two years of experience as a registered dental assistant in a high-volume practice.
• Availability to work evenings and/or weekends when requested.

Responsibilities

• Provide chair side assistance to dentist in four handed dentistry and prepare patients for service.
• Impressions, applying topical fluoride, nitrous oxide administration, sutures, and restorative procedures support.
• Maintain patient flow from reception to operatories and operate x-ray equipment.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Interpersonal skills

Professional dental duties knowledge

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Registered Dental Assistant exam certification

Coronal Polishing Certificate

Radiation Safety Certificate

CPR/BLS Certification

Tools

X-ray equipment

Sterilization equipment

Ultrasonic equipment

Dental laboratory equipment

Job description

Overview

At Vista Community Clinic (VCC), we believe healthcare is more than medicine, it’s about hope, community, and impact. For over 50 years, we’ve been a leader in the community clinic movement, growing from a small volunteer-driven effort in Vista to a nationally recognized network of state-of-the-art clinics across San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside counties. Today VCC has 14 clinics serving over 70,000 patients annually, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional, patient-centered care where it’s needed most.

As a private, non-profit, multi-specialty outpatient clinic, VCC provides more than healthcare, we provide opportunity. Here your skills are celebrated, your growth is supported and your work makes a difference. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

For eligible employees, benefits include:

• Competitive compensation & benefits
• Medical, dental, vision
• Company-paid life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• 403(b) retirement plan

Why VCC?

• Winner of the 2025 HRSA Gold Medal for Outstanding Care, placing VCC among the top 10% of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the U.S.
• Recognized by HRSA as a National Quality Leader in Behavioral Health and Diabetes and for excellence in Preventive Health and Health IT.
• A robust training & development culture to help you grow and advance your career.
• A workplace built on respect, collaboration and passion for care.

Responsibilities

Under the clinical supervision of the dentist and the administrative supervision of the clinic manager, the Registered Dental Assistant will provide chair side assistance to the dentist in the concept of four handed dentistry and prepare patients for service delivery.

• Perform a wide variety of patient care activities and assist chair side in the concept of four handed dentistry including but not limited to impressions, applying non-aerosol and topical agents, applying topical fluoride, removing post-extractions and periodontal dressings and sutures, assisting in the administration of nitrous oxide, placing and removing rubber dams and removing matrices for restorative procedures
• Maintain a smooth constant flow of patients from reception to operatories; coordinate the activities of several operatories through proper utilization of time, resources, abilities and patient needs
• Operate x-ray equipment to make complete and/or selective oral radiographic services. Process images and arrange in format as appropriate.

Qualifications

Minimum

• High school graduate or equivalent with post high school vocational/specialized training
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Certification of Completion of Registered Dental Assistant Exam
• Coronal Polishing Certificate
• Radiation Safety Certificate
• Current CPR/BLS Certification
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• Operational experience with x-ray machine, sterilizing equipment, ultrasonic equipment, laboratory equipment and other dental practice related equipment
• Minimum two years' experience working as a registered dental assistant in a high volume dental practice
• Availability and willingness to work evening and/or weekend hours when requested

Required Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Knowledge of the full range of professional dental duties in connection with treatment of dental diseases and dental health problems of usual difficulty
• Knowledge of professional and ethical standards of health care delivery
• Proven ability to put patients at ease and give clear understandable directions of treatment recommended by dentist
• Knowledge of health care delivery systems and the ability to use that knowledge in assisting clients with accessing necessary health care services
• Knowledge of the operational aspects of Medi-Cal, CHDP, private insurance and government programs which pay for dental services
• Experience/familiarity with computers, Microsoft Office products (Word/Excel), business e-mail communication systems and internet search capabilities

Pay Range

• DA - $23.74 - $27.32 Depending On Experience
• RDA - $26.16 - $30.00 Depending On Experience