Registered Dental Assistant

Registered Dental AssistantThe Contra Costa County Health Services Department is accepting applications on an ongoing basis for Registered Dental Assistant positions, which may be assigned to the Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center in Martinez or to the Health Services Department health centers located in Richmond, Pittsburg, and Brentwood. Registered Dental Assistants prepare patients for dental treatment and examinations and assist the Dentist at the chair during patient treatment. They review patient records to determine the instruments and materials that will be needed, take and develop x-rays of teeth and jaws and provide routine post-operative instructions to patients. Dental Assistants also mix cements, silver amalgams, and impression materials and take pre-impressions for dentures. In addition, they sterilize instruments, utensils, dressings, and equipment; clean dental rooms and equipment; and inventory and order supplies as needed. Other duties include maintaining patient records, scheduling patients, keeping inventory, ordering supplies, and other related work as required.Typical TasksPrepares patients for treatment and examination by seating the patient, adjusting the chair at a convenient angle and draping the patientReviews patient's record to determine what instruments and material will be needed and lays them outPasses instruments and materials to the dentist upon requestProvides oral suction, retraction and other assistance during oral surgeryRemoves excess cement after permanent crown cementationFits and cements temporary crownsPlaces post-extraction and periodontal dressingsPlacement and litigation of arch wiresMay perform coronal polishing of the teethTakes x-rays of teeth and jaws and develops the filmMixes cements, silver amalgams and impression materialsTakes pre-impressions for denturesTests pulp vitalityMay dry canals previously opened by the dentist with absorbent pointsProvides routine post-operative instructions to patientsSterilizes instruments, utensils, dressings and equipmentCleans dental rooms and equipmentMaintains patient records by indicating the type of work performedProcures charts and records needed by the dentistSchedules patientsInventories supplies and orders routine supplies as neededConducts oral health education with individuals and groupsAssists in dental screenings, placing dental sealants and fluoride varnish of patients in community settingsProvides oral health case management services for patientsTransports equipment and/or instruments to and from sites as neededAssists with administrative or programmatic projects as neededAttends meeting as requiredMay be required to travel to off-site meetings and clinicsProvide and promote excellence in customer service for both internal and external customersMinimum QualificationsLicense Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of state valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process. And Possession of a current license as a Registered Dental Assistant issued by the Dental Board of California. Certification: Possession of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross throughout the duration of employment. May be required to possess a valid sealant certification for specific Public Health programs.A COMPLETED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE IS REQUIRED. THE REGISTED DENTAL ASSISTANT LICENSE NUMBER MUST BE LISTED IN THE "CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES" SECTION OF THE APPLICATION.