Dental Assistant-Palm Springs

Salary : $38,750.40 - $53,352.00 Annually
Location : Palm Springs
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: 26-57731-01-JC
Department: RUHS-Community Health Clinics
Opening Date: 03/10/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION
The County of Riverside's Riverside University Health System - Community Health Clinics (CHC) has an opportunity for a Spanish Bilingual Dental Assistant. The position is located in Palm Springs (Employees are required to be available to cover at our sister clinics). Traveling is required.


Under close supervision, provides chairside assistance to dentists and oral surgeons; takes and processes digital x-rays; prepares instruments and patients for examinations and treatment; performs other related duties as required.

The Dental Assistant is a journey level classification and reports to an Assistant Nurse Manager, Healthcare Assistant Administrative Manager, or Dentist. Incumbents work under the technical guidance and supervision of oral surgeons and dentists and provide chairside assistance by preparing instruments and patients for examinations and treatments. The Dental Assistant class is further tasked with reviewing and maintaining patients' records, taking and processing digital x-rays, sterilizing instruments, scheduling appointments, and performing post-operative cleanup.

Other essential duties include assisting with appointment reminder calls and scheduling patients.

Work Schedule: Will be discussed during the interview. Tentative 9/80.
Meet the Team!
Riverside University Health System provides a wide range of primary and specialty care services across 13 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout Riverside County. As federally qualified health centers, the CHCs operate on a sliding fee scale to ensure that some of the county's most vulnerable populations receive the care they need.

Whether it's preventive care, chronic disease management, Express Care, Mobile Health, or integrated specialty and behavioral health services, our teams are made up of dedicated healthcare professionals who are passionate about making a difference.

If you're committed to delivering compassionate care and eager to join a team that truly values community, connection, and making a meaningful difference, RUHS is the place for you!

Learn more about our Community Health Centers by visiting
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Assist dentists and oral surgeons by preparing and arranging dental instruments, equipment, and medication; prepare local anesthetic syringes for the dentist.
• Prepare patients for treatment and examination; clean and sterilize instruments; perform post-operative cleanup.
• Take and process digital dental x-rays.
• Schedule appointments into the Patient Management Information System (PMIS), complete billing documents and data entry in the PMIS, and maintain dental records for all dental patients.
• Mix impression materials; instruct patients in proper practices of dental hygiene.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
OPTION I
Education: Possession of a valid certificate of completion from an accredited dental assistant training program.
OPTION II
Experience: One year of providing chairside dental assistance to dentists and/or oral surgeons.

Other Requirements:

• Possession of valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certificates issued by a provider certified by the American Heart Association.
• Possession of a valid certificate of examination for Radiation Safety issued by the California State Board of Dental Examiners.
• Completion of a California Dental Board approved course in the California Dental Practice Act.
• A California Dental Board approved course in infection control.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required.

ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of : Dental assistant procedures; principles and methods of sterilization; proper care and use of dental instruments, equipment, and materials.

Ability to: Take and process digital dental x-rays; learn basic operating room procedures necessary in oral surgery; comprehend and follow oral and written instructions; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment.)
Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION


This classification's rate of pay will be set in accordance with California Senate Bill 525 requirements for applicable departments.

Application Status

To confirm your application was received or check on the status of your application, log-in to click on your name in the upper right corner, and click on "Applications & Status."

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Go to click on "Careers," click on "County Job Openings," and click on "Subscribe to Job Alerts" icon.


For questions regarding this recruitment:

Contact Jesus Colin at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veteran's Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouse's) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouse's death certificate, a letter of spouse's disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veteran's Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans' preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here:
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at:
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services () or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. ().
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the ' Apply ' link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veteran's preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site,
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at View email address on click.appcast.io or toll-free View phone number on click.appcast.io.
BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE..
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT : County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

1. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
2. A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
3. A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to or by calling the Benefits Information Line at View phone number on click.appcast.io,
Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at View phone number on click.appcast.io to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees' Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If there's any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY:
Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for those unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave benefits. The wage replacement rate, as defined by current law, is between 60-70% of wages earned during the SDI eligibility period. Benefits can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of regular pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
01


Do you possess a current valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate issued by the American Heart Association?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you possess a valid certificate of examination for Radiation Safety issued by the California State Board of Dental Examiners?

• Yes
• No

03


Have you completed a California Dental Board approved course in the California Dental Practice Act?

• Yes
• No

04


Do you possess a California Dental Board approved course in infection control?

• Yes
• No

05


Do you possess a valid California Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

06


Do you currently possess a valid certificate of completion from an accredited dental assistant training program?

• Yes
• No

07


Do you have at least one year of experience providing chairside dental assistance to dentists and/or oral surgeons?

• Yes
• No

08


Are you a current County of Riverside employee?

• Yes
• No

09


What is your Spanish bilingual level?

• I am not bilingual in Spanish
• I speak Spanish, but cannot read or write
• I can speak, read, and write in Spanish

Required Question