Dental Assistant or Registered Dental Assistant (Per Diem)

Job Description

Job Description

About Us

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision:  a community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together.

As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 414,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 95,000 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance.

Since 1969,  our employees have been making this mission a reality.  Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond.  If this sounds like an organization you would like to be a part of, we would love to meet you.

ROLE OVERVIEW and PURPOSE

The Registered Dental Assistant or Dental Assistant will establish dental hygiene protocols and procedures to ensure a positive patient experience. This role will assist providers with documenting patient findings, treatment plans, and outcomes.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides high-quality dental hygiene within the scope of service consistent with accepted standards of care by assessing dental conditions and risk, using patient screening procedures, including medical history review, dental & perio-charting, and taking patient vital signs, as required
• Documents dental history of chief complaint; records and reports pertinent observations and patient reactions to dental staff, as appropriate
• Provides chair-side assistance to the dentist in the performance of special tests, procedures, and complex treatments
• Assists with or institutes emergency measures for sudden adverse development during treatment of patients
• Evaluates patients and implements treatment regimens under the supervision of the dentist
• Delivers direct patient care to patients as assigned, using established dental hygienist procedures, such as cleaning, polishing, x-rays, application of sealants, fluorides, and varnishes, making impressions of patients’ teeth for study casts and related procedures
• Provides complete documentation of all findings, treatments, and outcomes
• Initiates oral health education and prevention activities
• Develops and implements individualized dental care plans for patients; performs patient education and risk protocols, discharge planning, and patient/family teaching under the supervision of a dentist
• Documents lab procedures and ensure follow-up on results
• Reviews and interprets patient dental records
• Assists in the preparation of patient care areas, patient admissions, transfers, and discharge processes, as required
• Performs routine cleaning and maintenance of dental equipment and patient rooms
• Prepares reports and assists with patient reception, telephone calls, routine triage, and other office duties, as needed
• Impacts patient experiences by demonstrating courteous and helpful behavior and a commitment to accuracy
• Provide support to Mobile Dental Services, including traveling to offsite locations to provide services

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Dental Assistant:

• High school diploma/GED required
• One year dental assistant or related experience preferred
• Dental Assistant and Radiation Safety certifications required
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment. These courses must follow AHA guidelines- may be completed through approved online providers such as ProMed or other equivalent programs that meet recognized BLS standards.  
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) or (English/Arabic) preferred 

RDA License Requirement: Dental Assistants who are currently pursuing RDA licensure are encouraged to apply. Upon obtaining RDA licensure, employees may be considered for transition into an RDA position based on organizational needs and applicable requirements. 

Registered Dental Assistant:  

• High school diploma/GED required
• One year of registered dental assisting or related experience preferred
• Valid CA Registered Dental Assistant license required
• Valid X-Ray license required
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an American Heart Association (AHA)-approved source is required upon hire and must be maintained as a condition of employment.
  • AHA-approved courses include an in-person, hands-on skills check with a certified instructor using a mannequin to demonstrate CPR and emergency response techniques.
  • Online-only BLS courses without a live skills check do not meet this requirement
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) speaking preferred

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• This position may require a valid CA driver’s license and proof of current auto insurance
  • Any travel outside of the assigned home site must receive prior authorization from Human Resources.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition, typing, and proofreading skills
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Knowledgeable about and experience with dental hygiene protocol and procedures
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent planning and organizational ability
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/carry 20 lbs/weight
• Ability to stand for long periods of time

COMPLIANCE (Safety & HIPAA)

• Follow all safety procedures as outlined in Neighborhood Healthcare’s Illness and Injury Prevention Plan (IIPP) and report any injuries and/or unsafe conditions immediately
• Maintain current knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to safe work practices
• Follow all safety procedures and report unsafe conditions
• Use appropriate body mechanics to ensure an injury free environment
• Be familiar with location of nearest fire extinguisher and emergency exits
• Follow all infection control procedures including blood-borne pathogen protocols

• Maintain privacy of all patient, employee and volunteer information and access such information only on a need-to-know basis for business purposes
• Comply with all regulations regarding corporate integrity and security obligations
• Report all behavior and/or activity that are unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• This role may require travel to additional sites (Eastside A). 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition, typing and proofreading skills
• Knowledge and understanding of dental terminology
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Knowledgeable about and experience with full scope dentistry procedures and oral radiographic services, known as six handed dentistry
• Knowledge and experience using Microsoft Applications, eCW, and Sidexis
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent planning and organizational ability
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner

Pay Range:

• Dental Assistant: $22.88 - $32.08 per hour, depending on experience (DOE) 
• Registered Dental Assistant: $27.21 - $38.09 per hour, depending on experience (DOE) 

Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to: the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs. As a result, placement within the range is not guaranteed, and the full pay grade range may not be utilized.