Dental - RDA

The Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered dental care within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The RDA provides chairside assistance to dentists during clinical procedures, ensures adherence to sterilization and infection control protocols, and contributes to the efficient daily operations of the dental clinic. This role requires professionalism, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work with a diverse patient population, including underserved and vulnerable communities.

The RDA upholds the mission of the health center by promoting positive patient experience, supporting health equity, and maintaining compliance with HRSA, OSHA, HIPAA, and state dental board regulations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Patient Care:

1. Greet and prepare patients for dental treatments, ensuring patient comfort throughout the visit.
2. Obtain and review patient health history, ensuring accurate records are maintained.
3. Assist the dentist during procedures by providing instruments and materials, anticipating the dentist's needs, and maintaining a sterile working area.
4. Schedule follow up appointments when required.

Chairside Assistance:

1. Perform chair-side assistance in all general dental procedures, including but not limited to examinations, restorations, extractions, root canals, impressions and rubber cup polish.
2. Take dental X-rays as directed by the dentist, ensuring patient safety protocols are followed.
3. Place dental dams, apply fluoride, and perform all RDA duties permitted by the Dental Board of California.
4. Obtain consents and print treatment plans.
5. Create referrals to specialists

Equipment & Instruments Management:

1. Set up and prepare the dental operatory, ensuring instruments and materials are ready for each patient.
2. Clean and sterilize dental instruments and maintain cleanliness in the operatory according to OSHA and CDC guidelines.
3. Maintain, organize, and track inventory of dental supplies and materials, notifying the lead assistant or manager of any shortages.
4. Maintain dental equipment as recommended and assigned by Lead Assistant.
5. Follow and perform weekly duties as assigned (spore test, change traps, etc.).

Records Management:

1. Accurately record treatment information, procedure details, and patient notes in the electronic dental record (EDR) system.
2. Maintain patient confidentiality and follow all HIPAA guidelines.

Patient Education:

1. Provide patients with instructions for post-procedure care, answer their questions, and address any concerns.
2. Educate patients on good oral hygiene practices and preventative care measures.
3. Present treatment plans to patients when necessary.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Completion of an accredited Dental Assisting program.
2. Active California Registered Dental Assistant license in good standing.
3. Current Coronal Polishing and Pit/Fissure Sealant Certificate.
4. Valid X-Ray certificate.

Experience:

1. Six months to one year experience.
2. Experience with dental software and radiographic procedures.
3. Experience handling dental equipment (sterilizers, NOMAD, etc.)

Preferred:

1. Experience serving a multinational, multicultural population.
2. FQHC experience.

3. Familiarity with community health clinics and/or Indian Health Clinics preferred.

3. ECW EHR.

Special Conditions of Employment:

1. CPR/ BLS certification: Maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Red Cross, or an equivalent organization. Certification must include an in-person, hands-on skills assessment. Online-only certifications are not accepted.
2. Annual background checks: Consent to annual background checks as a condition of continued employment, to ensure compliance with organizational standards and eligibility requirements.
3. For-Cause Drug Screening: Comply with drug screening requirements when initiated by the organization for cause, to support a safe, compliant, and drug-free workplace.
4. Ongoing Compliance Requirements: Maintain up-to-date compliance with all required annual renewals, including professional licenses, certifications, physical examinations, TB testing, and mandatory regulatory trainings as assigned by the San Diego American Indian Health Center (SDAIHC).

Skills and Competencies:

1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with patients and team members.
2. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to anticipate dentist needs.
3. Knowledge of infection control procedures, safety protocols, and dental terminology.
4. Ability to maintain a calm and positive demeanor, even in high-stress situations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
2. Excellent time management skills
3. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
4. Ability to maintain confidentiality and meticulous records.
5. Effective interpersonal skills.
6. Able to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals.
7. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships all during the course of work.
8. Able to perform basic mathematical calculations necessary to perform the job function.
9. Bilingual in Spanish/English a plus
10. Must be reliable and extremely trustworthy. 
11. Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Suite or related programs. Ability to learn other accounting software systems.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodation.

1. Able to lift/move up to 20 pounds, move from place to place.
2. Able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for prolonged periods.
3. Ability to do math, organize and prioritize workload, work effectively and efficiently under stress.
4. Ability to supervise, multitask, understand, and follow instructions.
5. Ability to proficiently read, write, speak, and understand English.

Customer Service:

1. Actively supports, promotes, and works to fulfill the Mission, Vision, and core values of SDAIHC.
2. Provides excellent internal and external customer service.
3. Demonstrates SDAIHC’s Standards of Customer Service Behavior: Compassion, Attitude, Communication, Appearance, Sense of Ownership, and Teamwork.
4. Participates in on-going customer service training.
5. In every action, seeks to promote SDAIHC as a top service organization.

Quality Management:

1. Contribute to the success of the organization by participating in quality improvement activities.
2. Complies with all SDAIHC policies and procedures and proactively participates in the implementation of new initiatives.
3. Participate and ensure continuous quality improvement process as directed by clinic leadership.  

Safety:

1. Ensures regulatory compliance and adherence with policies and procedures related to safe work practices.
2. Participate in infection prevention through appropriate use of infection control measures during patient treatment and patient interactions.
3. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for maintaining physical spaces, equipment, and supplies.  
4. Uses all appropriate equipment and/or tools to ensure workplace safety. 
5. Immediately reports unsafe working conditions.

Privacy/Compliance:

1. Maintains privacy and security of all patients, employee, and volunteer information and access to such information. Such information is accessed on a need-to-know basis for business purposes only. 
2. Complies with all regulations regarding corporate integrity and security obligations. Reports on unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful behavior or activity.
3. Upholds strict ethical standards.

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Preference is given to qualified American Indian/Alaskan Natives in accordance with the American Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code Section 472, 473 and 473a). In other than the above, the San Diego American Indian Health Center, is an equal opportunity employer.

Acknowledgement

San Diego American Indian Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or any other protected class, political affiliation, or belief.

Preference is given to qualified American Indian/Alaskan Natives in accordance with the American Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code Section 472, 473 and 473a). In other than the above, the San Diego American Indian Health Center, is an equal opportunity employer.

San Diego American Indian Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or any other protected class, political affiliation, or belief.