Registered Dental Assistant

Contra Costa County; Martinez (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Contra Costa County Health Services Department is seeking Registered Dental Assistants for positions at the Martinez site or Health Centers in Richmond, Pittsburg, and Brentwood. RDAs will prepare patients, assist dentists, take and develop dental x-rays, sterilize instruments, and manage records and scheduling.

Travel to off-site clinics may be required. Minimum qualifications include a valid California RDA license and BLS/CPR certification; a sealant certification may be required for specific

Qualifications

• License: California Registered Dental Assistant license.
• BLS/CPR certification.
• Sealant certification may be required for specific programs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare patients for treatment and examination and assist the dentist at chair.
• Take and develop dental x-rays and review records to determine instruments needed.
• Sterilize instruments and maintain dental rooms and supplies.
• Schedule patients and maintain records; assist with community health programs.

Job description

CONTINUOUS

Bargaining Unit: Local 856 - Attendant/LVN/Aides Unit The Contra Costa County Health Services Department is accepting applications on an ongoing basis for

The Position

CONTINUOUS

Bargaining Unit: Local 856 - Attendant/LVN/Aides Unit

The Contra Costa County Health Services Department is accepting applications on an ongoing basis for Registered Dental Assistant positions, which may be assigned to the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center in Martinez or to the Health Services Department health centers located in Richmond, Pittsburg, and Brentwood.

Registered Dental Assistants prepare patients for dental treatment and examinations and assist the Dentist at the chair during patient treatment. They review patient records to determine the instruments and materials that will be needed, take and develop x-rays of teeth and jaws and provide routine post‑operative instructions to patients. Dental Assistants also mix cements, silver amalgams, and impression materials and take pre‑impressions for dentures. In addition, they sterilize instruments, utensils, dressings, and equipment; clean dental rooms and equipment; and inventory and order supplies as needed. Other duties include maintaining patient records, scheduling patients, keeping inventory, ordering supplies, and other related work as required.

Typical Tasks

• Prepares patients for treatment and examination by seating the patient, adjusting the chair at a convenient angle and draping the patient
• Reviews patient's record to determine what instruments and material will be needed and lays them out
• Passes instruments and materials to the dentist upon request
• Provides oral suction, retraction and other assistance during oral surgery
• Removes excess cement after permanent crown cementation
• Fits and cements temporary crowns
• Places post‑extraction and periodontal dressings
• Placement and litigation of arch wires
• May perform coronal polishing of the teeth
• Takes x-rays of teeth and jaws and develops the film
• Mixes cements, silver amalgams and impression materials
• Takes pre-impressions for dentures
• Tests pulp vitality
• May dry canals previously opened by the dentist with absorbent points
• Provides routine post‑operative instructions to patients
• Sterilizes instruments, utensils, dressings and equipment
• Cleans dental rooms and equipment
• Maintains patient records by indicating the type of work performed
• Procures charts and records needed by the dentist
• Schedules patients
• Inventories supplies and orders routine supplies as needed
• Conducts oral health education with individuals and groups
• Assists in dental screenings, placing dental sealants and fluoride varnish of patients in community settings
• Provides oral health case management services for patients
• Transports equipment and/or instruments to and from sites as needed
• Assists with administrative or programmatic projects as needed
• Attends meeting as required
• May be required to travel to off‑site meetings and clinics
• Provide and promote excellence in customer service for both internal and external customers

Minimum Qualifications

License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of state valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process.

Possession of a current license as a Registered Dental Assistant issued by the Dental Board of California.

Certification: Possession of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or Cardio‑Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross throughout the duration of employment.

May be required to possess a valid sealant certification for specific Public Health programs.

A COMPLETED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE IS REQUIRED. THE REGISTED DENTAL ASSISTANT LICENSE NUMBER MUST BE LISTED IN THE “CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES” SECTION OF THE APPLICATION.

Selection Process

• Application Filing and Evaluation: Applicants will be required to complete a supplemental questionnaire at the time of application, applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.
• Training and Experience Evaluation: At the time of filing, within the supplemental questionnaire, candidates will be required to complete a training and experience questionnaire. Candidates that clearly meet the minimum qualifications, as described above, will have their training and experience responses evaluated. The training and experience questionnaire is designed to measure candidate’s relevant education, training, and/or experience as it relates to the Family Nurse Practitioner classification. (Weighted 100%).

TENTATIVE EXAM DATES

Supplemental questions will be evaluated on a monthly basis. Responses to the supplemental questions are submitted at the time of application filing.

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment questions, please contact Health Services Personnel, Recruitment Team at [e-mail]. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at [phone].

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

Contra Costa County is committed to providing equal access and opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities in its employment practices. If you believe you may anticipate needing reasonable accommodation, please visit our job seeker resources page at: Special Testing Accommodations | Contra Costa County, CA Official Website.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits

01

Minimum Qualifications License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of state valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process. AND Possession of a current license as a Registered Dental Assistant issued by the Dental Board of California. Certification: Possession of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or Cardio‑Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross throughout the duration of employment. You may be required to possess a valid sealant certification for specific Public Health programs. Do you meet the minimum qualifications for this position?

• Yes
• No

02

Minimum Qualifications License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of state valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process. AND Possession of a current license as a Registered Dental Assistant issued by the Dental Board of California. Certification: Possession of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or Cardio‑Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross throughout the duration of employment. You may be required to possess a valid sealant certification for specific Public Health programs. Do you meet the minimum qualifications for this position?

• Yes
• No

03

License And Certifications. Please Select ALL That Apply

• I possess a valid a California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of state valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process
• I possess a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association AND proof of my current certificate is attached to my application
• I possess a valid CPR certification issued by the American Red Cross AND proof of my current certificate is attached to my application
• I possess a valid sealant certification AND proof of my current certificate is attached to my application
• None of the above

04

Have you ever worked as a Registered Dental Assistant?

• Yes
• No

05

If Yes, Please Indicate Where

• Hospital
• Community Clinic
• Private Dentist
• None of the above

06

Have you ever taken x-rays of teeth and jaws and developed the film?

• Yes
• No

07

Have you ever sterilized instruments, utensils, dressings, and equipment?

• Yes
• No

08

If yes, please indicate the method or type of procedure used:

09

Are you familiar with Universal Blood/Body Fluid precautions?

• Yes
• No

10

If Yes, Please Describe

11

Have you ever performed any of the following chairside duties? Please select ALL that apply:

• Prepared patients for treatment and examination
• Passed instruments and materials to dentist
• Provided oral suction, retraction, and assistance during oral surgery
• Mixed cements, silver amalgam, and impression materials
• Coronal polishing

12

Have you ever performed any of the following Dental Assistant duties? Please select ALL that apply:

• Reviewed patients' record to determine appropriate instruments and materials
• Taken pre-impressions for dentures
• Provided post‑operative instructions to patients
• Cleaned dental rooms and equipment
• Maintained patient records
• Scheduled patients
• Inventoried and ordered supplies
• Applied topical fluoride to teeth
• None of the above

13

I certify that I meet the announced minimum requirements for this examination and understand that I will be eliminated at any stage in such examination if it develops that, in fact I do not meet them. I further certify that all statements made in this supplemental questionnaire and the application are true and I agree and understand that misstatements or omissions of material facts will cause forfeiture of my rights to employment with Contra Costa County.

• Yes
• No
• Required Question