Registered Dental Assistant

Western University; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Western University of Health Sciences is seeking a Registered Dental Assistant to support clinical faculty, dental students, and staff at The Dental Center in Pomona, CA. The role primarily involves chairside assistance, infection control, and instrument management within a multidisciplinary dental team.

The position requires CA RDA licensure, a minimum of three years’ experience, and BLS certification. Usual hours are Mon-Fri with potential evenings/weekends; compensation reflects an hourly

Qualifications

• Must be a Registered Dental Assistant in the State of California.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience as a dental assistant.
• Current Basic Life Support certification.
• Bilingual ability helpful.

Responsibilities

• Chairside dental assistant duties, including operatory set-up and breakdown.
• Infection control protocols.
• Preparation and maintenance of dental instruments, supplies and equipment for each appointment.
• Record patient health histories and manage patient communication.
• Assist in administration of nitrous oxide analgesia or sedation under supervision.
• Support clinic operations and scheduling.

Skills

Computers & EHR

Office equipment handling

Video communications

Telephone operations

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Portable dental units

Ultrasonic units

Sterilization units

Portable imaging units

Job description

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.

Registered Dental Assistant

Position Control Number

S01687

Type of Position

Staff

Position Status

Full-time

Campus

Patient Care Center-Pomona, CA

Position Location

California

Department

1920-CDM International Student Program

Job Summary

To assist clinical faculty, dental students, and other clinical support staff in the provision of oral health care to patients in the College of Dental Medicine Clinics with a primary role at The Dental Center in Pomona. Facilitates the efficient delivery of patient care working as part of a multidisciplinary dental team, with the primary role as chairside dental assistant. Individuals must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Knowledge

• Must be a Registered Dental Assistant in the State of California; have a minimum of three years’ experience as a dental assistant; current Basic Life Support.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to effectively interact with health care professionals, students, and patients. Bilingual ability helpful.

Skills

• Proficient with computers, electronic health record, printers, calculator, fax machine, copy machine operation, electronic mail, video communications programs and telephone operation.
• Experience using portable dental units, ultrasonic and sterilization units, portable imaging units

Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact with administration, faculty, staff, and students effectively and professionally.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism.

Education

• Minimum education: High school diploma or equivalent. Any combination of education, training, or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Experience

• Three or more years of experience as an RDA in a clinic, hospital clinic or dental office.

Licensure and Certification

• Must have current California RDA license and current Basic Life Support certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiar with Denti-cal regulations
• Preference given to those with experience in dental education.

Key Responsibilities

• Chairside dental assistant duties, including: operatory set-up and breakdown; infection control protocols; preparation and maintenance of dental instruments, supplies and equipment for each appointment; collect and record patient health histories; patient communication management; instrument transfer; isolation; dental material handling for all general and specialty dental procedures performed by a general dentist; dental charting; support medical emergencies.
• Provide basic supportive dental procedures under the direct supervision of a clinical dental faculty member as allowed by the Dental Board of California for Registered Dental Assistants, including, but not limited to: mouth mirror inspection of oral cavity; placement/removal of sedative dressings; taking dental x-rays; taking impressions; application of topical fluoride and other agents; suture removal; assist in administration of nitrous oxide analgesia or sedation; place/remove rubber dams; place/remove wedges and matrices; cure restorative materials; test pulp vitality; size stainless steel crowns; temporary crown fabrication and cementation; application of bleaching agents; and coronal polishing.
• Support of clinic operations, including: clinic material, supply and instrument inventory control; quality assessment and maintenance of dental instruments; regular maintenance of clinical equipment as directed; monitors and cleans clinic operatories and support spaces; reporting of equipment failures; maintain/record logs related to quality assurance and equipment operations; instrument sterilization; and instrument/material/equipment dispensing.
• Support the administrative clinical staff, including answering phones, patient reception, patient scheduling, dental record review and maintenance, patient registration, and patient billing.
• Support the educational mission of the clinical faculty, including role modeling and teaching students how to function as a dental assistant on the dental team, both in four-handed chairside activities and in clinic operation support. Support clinical faculty in teaching students how to function as a dental provider on the dental team.
• Participate in required training and mandatory in-services such as BLS , infection control, and HIPAA .
• Other duties as assigned. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties for this position. The College of Dental Medicine-Dental Center reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Posting Details Continued

Work Schedule

• Usual hours are Monday-Friday 8 AM to 5 PM with the possibility of earlier or later start time.
• Evening or weekends may be required.
• Maybe be required to travel to CDM clinics including but not limited to CDM sites in Pomona, El Monte, and Chino Hills.

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.
We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally,

• Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success.
• Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment.
• Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community.
• As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences.
• WesternU’s core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do.
• We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people!

Expected Pay Scale

• Minimum: $23.07 Hourly
• Maximum: $23.41 Hourly

Physical Demands

Do the essential functions of this job require lifting?

Yes

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to grasp objects and equipment. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear, and smell. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hand and arms, climb and stoop. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and must occasionally move or push by cart up to 25 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include close and color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus in order to monitor the various computer screens and instruments used during the physiological processes. Overtime is occasionally required.

Describe Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Duties are normally performed in a large multi-chaired clinic. The noise level in this setting is usually moderate due to the open design of the clinic.

Posting Information

Posting Number

S01820

Posting Date

08/17/2026

Close Date

08/17/2027

Open Until Filled

Yes

Conditions of Employment - Background Check

To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non-completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position.

Pay Transparency Act

Pay Transparency Act- Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Placement within the Expected Pay Scale is determined by internal equity and relevant qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO)

It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time.

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

• Letter of Recommendation #1
• Letter of Recommendation #2
• Letter of Recommendation #3
• Additional Applicant Document
• Required License/Certification

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? Please provide the name of the website, individual, or organization.

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Are you a current employee at Western University of Health Sciences?
  • Yes
  • No

309 E. Second St.
Pomona, CA 91766-1854
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