DA/RDA (DENTAL ASSISTANT/REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT) JOB SUMMARY

The Dental Assistant is responsible for assisting the Dentist in the direct provision of primary care dental services to patients of the center. The Dental Assistant is also responsible for sterilization, preparation and inventory control of dental instruments and supplies.
The Registered Dental Assistant is responsible for preparing the patient for the treatment, assist the dentist in performing their treatment to the patient in restorative dentistry or oral surgery, prepare materials and equipment for treatment and have them ready for the dentist’s use, take x-rays and assist the dentist in laboratory work.

DA (DENTAL ASSISTANT) ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists patients in resolving minor difficulties, answering their questions and giving directions to patients as authorized by the dentist.
• Serves as dentist’s chair side assistant.
• Prepares operatory for patient treatment as per Dental Department protocols and the dentist’s directions.
• Exposes and develops dental radiographs in accordance with state regulations and law as well as Dental Department directive and protocol.
• Performs independent procedures as delegated and directed by the dentist in accordance with state regulation and law and Dental Department directive and protocol.
• Maintains Dental Department equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s direction and Dental Department policy and protocol.
• Maintains all Dental Department areas in compliance with Dental department directives and protocols as well as center policies and procedures relative to infection control, exposure control and safety issues.
• Maintains adequate operatory supplies and complies a list of individual item shortages for inventory control and ordering purposes.
• Maintains a list of all Dental Department patients, monitors patient flow, and assists the Dental director, dentist in assuring that all patient records and documents are properly and accurately completed and filed.
• Receives and places necessary telephone calls consistent with professional matters, clinic business and patient of the dental department.
• Insures the sterility of all reusable dental instruments and equipment in accordance with dental department directive and protocol.
• Insures the proper disposal of all contaminated or potentially contaminated materials in accordance with dental department directive, center policy as well as state and federal regulations.
• Participates in appropriate health promotion / disease prevention activities, both on site and off site as required.
• As directed by a supervisor, performs other related and/or necessary tasks to achieved organizational and programmatic goals and objectives.

RDA (REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT) ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (IN ADDITION TO ABOVE)

• All duties that a dental assistant is allowed to perform
• Mouth-mirror inspections of the oral cavity, to include charting of obvious lesions, existing restorations, and missing teeth
• Apply and activate bleaching agents using a nonlaser light-curing device
• Use of automated caries detection devices and materials to gather information for diagnosis by the dentist
• Obtain intraoral images for computer-aided design (CAD), milled restorations
• Pulp vitality testing and recording of findings
• Place bases, liners, and bonding agents
• Chemically prepare teeth for bonding
• Place, adjust, and finish direct provisional restorations
• Fabricate, adjust, cement and remove indirect provisional restorations, including stainless steel crowns when used as a provisional restoration.
• Place post-extraction dressings after inspection of the surgical site by the supervising licensed dentist
• Place periodontal dressings
• Dry endodontically treated canals using absorbent paper points
• Adjust dentures extra-orally
• Remove excess cement from surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument
• Polish coronal surfaces of the teeth
• Place ligature ties and archwires
• Remove orthodontic bands
• Remove excess cement with an ultrasonic scaler from supragingival surfaces of teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment (if he or she has completed a board- approved registered dental assistant educational program in those duties, or if he or she has provided evidence, satisfactory to the board, of having completed a board-approved course)
• The application of pit and fissure sealants (if he or she has completed a board- approved registered dental assistant educational program in those duties, or if he or she has provided evidence, satisfactory to the board, of having completed a board-approved course)

DA/RDA (DENTAL ASSISTANT/REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT) EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or GED certification
• Proof of completion of the following Board-approved courses: infection control (8 hours), the Dental Practice Act (2 hours), radiation safety(32 hours), Coronal Polishing (12 hours).
• Current certification in basic life support issued by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the American Safety and Health Institute, the American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program, or the Academy of General Dentistry’s Program Approval for Continuing Education
• At least one year experience in dental office setting preferred but not required
• For DA: Certified Dental Assistant preferred but not required
• For RDA: Certification as a Registered Dental Assistant required
• Bilingual in Spanish/English or Armenian/English preferred but not required
  

DA (DENTAL ASSITANT) PAY RATE: $22/hr
RDA (REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT) PAY RATE: $23-$25/hr (Dependent on experience)

DA/RDA (DENTAL ASSISTANT/REGISTERED DENTAL ASSISTANT) BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental and Vision – 100% paid by Employer
• Life Insurance and Accidental Dismemberment – 100% paid by Employer
• Wellness Day Off
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k)
• 401(k) Matching
• Flexible Spending Account
• Fringe
• Supplemental Insurance

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants, including those with arrest or conviction records. In accordance with the ULAC Fair Chance Ordinance, we will not inquire about or consider criminal history until after a candidate has received a copy of their background check report. All applicants will be evaluated based on their qualifications and ability to perform the essential functions of the job. For more information, please refer to LA County Fair Chance Hiring.

PM23