Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

Salary Range $24.74 - $37.10 Hourly Position Type Full Time Job Shift Day Education Level High School Diploma / GED Travel Percentage Local Travel Site to Site Category Health Care

Description

SUMMARY:

The Dental Assistant supports the delivery of dental care by assisting the dentist during clinical procedures and maintaining a clean, well-prepared operatory environment. Responsibilities include seating patients, preparing and disinfecting exam rooms, sterilizing instruments, assisting chairside during procedures, and ensuring accurate documentation of patient records. The Dental Assistant also monitors equipment functionality and reports maintenance needs promptly. This role is essential to creating a safe, efficient, and welcoming experience for patients receiving dental services.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports and implements the organization's mission, vision, and values.
• Prioritizes daily responsibilities to ensure timely, high-quality patient care.
• Provides professional, courteous service in all interactions, including responding promptly to phone calls and emails.
• Fosters a culture of service excellence, accountability, and teamwork.
• Seats patients, adjusts chairs, drapes appropriately, and prepares them for treatment.
• Sets up and cleans operatories before and after procedures, including turning equipment on/off, disinfecting surfaces, and managing instruments.
• Sterilizes hand instruments using autoclaves and maintains handpieces per protocol.
• Reviews patient charts to determine necessary instruments and materials for upcoming procedures.
• Assists the dentist chairside by passing instruments, positioning suction, mixing filling materials, and placing post-operative dressings.
• Performs coronal polishing, applies sealants, and places and removes temporary crowns and restorations as authorized.
• Charts existing restorations and extractions based on radiographs.
• Exposes, processes, and develops diagnostic dental x-rays as requested.
• Maintains accurate and timely patient records, including procedure documentation and future appointment scheduling.
• Instructs patients on proper oral hygiene, plaque control, and nutrition; applies fluoride as needed.
• Performs interpretation duties and orients patients to available dental services.
• Adheres to infection prevention protocols, including proper disposal of biohazard waste and sharps.
• Performs daily equipment cleaning and restocking of operatories and supply areas.
• Completes reports clearly, accurately, and in a timely manner.
• Conducts routine equipment maintenance and quality assurance testing.
• Demonstrates competency with front office functions such as patient registration, referral processing, appointment scheduling, and phone support.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Completion of a dental assisting training program or equivalent on-the-job experience required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in a clinical dental setting, preferably in community health.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• Current CPR certification required.
• California RDA license is not required but preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of chairside assisting, sterilization protocols, and infection control standards.
• Ability to follow clinical protocols, prioritize tasks, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Flexible and willing to support other departments or clinic locations as needed.
• Consistently adheres to organizational policies, procedures, and standards of professionalism.
• Committed to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care in a diverse, mission-driven environment.