Dental Receptionist/assistant

Actalent; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Entry Level Dental Assistant in Santa Barbara, CA. You will provide administrative and clinical support, schedule patient appointments, and assist dentists. Training will be provided to develop dental assisting skills and ensure a positive patient experience.

The role emphasizes welcoming patients, sterilizing instruments, taking dental X-rays, and maintaining accurate records as part of a team in a fast-paced clinic.

Qualifications

• Fluent in English and Spanish; strong communication and customer service skills.
• Interest in pursuing a healthcare/dental care career; ability to learn on the job.

Responsibilities

• Assist dental staff with patient care and clinic operations.
• Prepare treatment rooms and organize instruments and materials before patient appointments.
• Clean, sterilize, and maintain dental instruments and equipment.
• Welcome patients and help create a positive, comfortable experience.
• Educate patients on basic oral hygiene and post-visit instructions as directed.
• Record patient information and assist with maintaining accurate records.
• Schedule appointments and help manage patient flow throughout the day.
• Follow infection control, safety, and clinic policies.
• Learn dental assisting skills and procedures through on-the-job training.

Skills

Patient Care

Bilingual English/Spanish

Communication

Customer Service

Team Collaboration

Attention to Detail

Professionalism

Organization

Time Management

Willingness to Learn

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

Job Summary

Provided administrative and clinical support in a community health dental clinic by scheduling and confirming patient appointments, updating patient records, handling inbound and outbound calls, and delivering exceptional customer service. Assisted dentists and dental providers with patient care, prepared treatment rooms, sterilized instruments, took dental X-rays, and helped ensure a positive patient experience throughout treatment.

Entry Level Dental Assistant

Job Summary

Provided administrative and clinical support in a community health dental clinic by scheduling and confirming patient appointments, updating patient records, handling inbound and outbound calls, and delivering exceptional customer service. Assisted dentists and dental providers with patient care, prepared treatment rooms, sterilized instruments, took dental X-rays, and helped ensure a positive patient experience throughout treatment.

Responsibilities

• Assist dental staff with patient care and clinic operations.
• Prepare treatment rooms and organize instruments and materials before patient appointments.
• Clean, sterilize, and maintain dental instruments and equipment.
• Welcome patients and help create a positive, comfortable experience.
• Educate patients on basic oral hygiene and post-visit instructions as directed.
• Record patient information and assist with maintaining accurate records.
• Schedule appointments and help manage patient flow throughout the day.
• Follow infection control, safety, and clinic policies.
• Learn dental assisting skills and procedures through on-the-job training.

Required Qualifications

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Interest in pursuing a career in healthcare, dental care, or patient services.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Positive attitude, willingness to learn, and ability to take direction.
• Ability to work effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds.
• Reliable, professional, and team-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous customer service, retail, hospitality, childcare, or healthcare experience.
• Experience working with the public in a fast-paced environment.
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn new systems.

Key Skills

• Patient Care
• Customer Service
• Communication
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Team Collaboration
• Attention to Detail
• Professionalism
• Organization
• Time Management
• Willingness to Learn

Top 4 Requirements

• Fluent in both English and Spanish.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Desire to build a career in the healthcare field.
• Positive attitude with a willingness to learn and work as part of a team.

No prior dental experience or certification required. Full training will be provided for motivated candidates interested in starting a career in healthcare.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Santa Barbara, CA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $22.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Santa Barbara, CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 31, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Santa Barbara,CA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.