Registered Dental Assistant

Pay scale reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries. Within this range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training, and work location. Compensation details listed reflect base salary only.

Pay

Hourly pay range: $23.07 – $23.41

About the role

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, primarily at The Dental Center in Pomona. Facilitate efficient delivery of patient care as part of a multidisciplinary dental team, with a primary role as chairside dental assistant.

Responsibilities

• Chairside dental assistant duties:
  • 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, and dental material handling for all general and specialty dental procedures
  • Dental charting
  • Support medical emergencies
• Provide basic supportive dental procedures under direct supervision of a clinical dental faculty member as allowed by the Dental Board of California for Registered Dental Assistants, including:
  • Mouth mirror inspection of oral cavity
  • Placement/removal of sedative dressings
  • Taking dental x-rays and impressions
  • Application of topical fluoride and other agents
  • Suture removal
  • Assist in administration of nitrous oxide analgesia or sedation
  • Place/remove rubber dams, wedges, and matrices
  • Cure restorative materials
  • Test pulp vitality
  • Size stainless steel crowns
  • Temporary crown fabrication and cementation
  • Application of bleaching agents
  • Coronal polishing
• Support clinic operations:
  • Clinic material, supply, and instrument inventory control
  • Quality assessment and maintenance of dental instruments
  • Regular maintenance of clinical equipment as directed
  • Monitor and clean clinic operatories and support spaces
  • Report equipment failures
  • Maintain/record logs related to quality assurance and equipment operations
  • Instrument sterilization
  • Instrument/material/equipment dispensing
• Support administrative clinical staff:
  • Answer phones
  • Patient reception and scheduling
  • Dental record review and maintenance
  • Patient registration and billing
• Support the educational mission of the clinical faculty:
  • Role model and teach 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

Requirements

• Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) in the State of California
• Minimum of three years' experience as a dental assistant
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Proficient with computers, electronic health records, printers, calculators, fax machines, copy machines, electronic mail, video communications programs, and telephone operation
• Experience using portable dental units, ultrasonic and sterilization units, and portable imaging units
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interact effectively with health care professionals, students, and patients

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Familiarity with Denti-Cal regulations
• Experience in dental education