Registered Dental Assistant

Gracelight Community Health; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Gracelight Community Health in Los Angeles, CA is seeking a Dental Assistant to work under the dentist's supervision. Responsibilities include seating patients, preparing treatment rooms, sterilizing equipment, taking and developing x-rays, and maintaining patient records.

The ideal candidate has a high school diploma or GED, current CPR and X-ray certificates, and a valid RDA license. Bilingual abilities are a plus; day shift, full-time position with patient‑focused service.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Current CPR, X‑Ray, RDA license, coronal polish and sealant certificates required.
• Two years related experience preferred; bilingual skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the dentist, prepare treatment rooms and sterilize equipment.
• Take and develop x-rays as requested.
• Maintain patient records and schedule visits.
• Answer phones and emails, provide patient service.
• Adhere to infection control policies and cleaning routines.

Skills

Two years related experience

Bilingual preferred

Excellent patient service

Education

High School diploma / GED

CPR Certificate

X-Ray Certificate

Registered Dental Assistant License

Coronal polish certificate

Pit and fissure sealant certificate

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Westlake North Health Center - Los Angeles, CA 90017

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School Diploma / GED

Salary Range: $27.24 - $41.29 Hourly

Travel Percentage: Local Travel Site to Site

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Health Care

SUMMARY

The Dental Assistant works under the direct supervision of the dentist and reports to the Dental Director. Job duties include: Seating patients, room set up, room clean-up, assisting the dentist, sterilizing equipment, reporting equipment maintenance needs, securing, packing and un‑packing trailers for moves and maintaining records.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support and implement the organization’s vision, mission and value.
• Determines priorities and method of completing daily workload to ensure that all responsibilities are carried out in a timely manner.
• Performs all job functions in a professional and courteous manner. This includes answering all phone calls and emails timely and providing excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
• Fosters and promotes a culture of service excellence and accountability.
• Placement of post‑extraction and periodontal dressing.
• Responsible for room set‑up and clean‑up to include turning equipment (vacuum/compressor, autoclave and x‑ray units) on and off throughout the day, disinfect countertops, chairs, lights and all patient areas, remove and replace instruments after usage.
• Prepare patient for treatment by seating patient, adjusting chair for convenient angle and draping patient.
• Responsible for the sterilization of hand instruments via the autoclave and maintaining and lubricating hand pieces as required.
• Review patient chart and using standard practices and procedural instructions as a guide, determines what instruments and materials will be needed and insure they are available for usage.
• Assist the dentist by passing equipment upon request, mixing filling compounds (composite and/or amalgam) placing and positioning suction tubes in the patient’s mouth, taking and developing x-rays as requested.
• Maintain patient records by indicating type of work done and assists in scheduling future visits by determining time intervals according to the type of work to be done.
• Perform duties as an interpreter and participates in patient orientation to include providing information about available dental services, proper personal dental hygiene and nutrition.
• Prepare reports clearly, neatly and accurately with complete documentation in a timely manner.
• Expose dental diagnostic x‑rays.
• Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
• Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
• Coronal polishing of teeth as directed by dentist.
• Perform mouth‑mirror inspections of the oral cavity, to include charting of obvious lesions, existing restorations and missing teeth.
• Remove excess cement from supragingival surface of teeth with a band tool or floss.
• Size stainless steel crowns, temporary crowns, and bands.
• Chemically prepare teeth for bonding.
• Adjust dentures extra‑orally.
• Apply and activate bleaching agents using a non‑laser light‑curing device.
• Pulp vitality testing and recording of findings.
• Place bases, liners and bonding agents.
• Performs required maintenance and quality assurance testing for all equipment.
• Demonstrates competence with the front office responsibilities of the job, e.g. verify insurances, process referrals, register patients, follow‑up on procedures, make appointments and answer phone calls.
• Adheres to all infection prevention policies and procedures and properly disposes of biohazard waste and sharps. Daily cleaning and stocking of supplies and equipment.
• Complies with organizational policies and procedures.
• Perform all duties that a dental assistant is allowed to do and all other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• High School graduate or GED equivalency required
• Current CPR Certificate, X‑Ray Certificate, Registered Dental Assistant License, Coronal polish certificate and Pit and fissure sealant certificate required
• Two years related experience preferred
• Bilingual preferred

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrate ability and flexibility to work in other areas of the organization as needed.
• Adheres to company policies and procedures in the performance of work duties.
• Demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and education for job functions.
• Perform work in adherence to company’s policies and procedures.
• Perform as a self‑starter who needs no reminders of duties and tasks that need to be completed, and requires little or no direct supervision.
• Identify problems and opportunities to improve the quality of department services and implement changes or reports suggestions to the Supervisor.
• Demonstrate ability to problem solve and perform critical thinking.