Dental Assistant

Location: California

Dental Assistant# Dental Assistant Start Date   06/15/2026## Overview Salary Range $21.83 - $31.92 Hourly Position Type Full Time Education Level High School/Equivalent## Description
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* POSITION SUMMARY:

** Reporting to the Clinic Manager, as well as working under both the Registered Dental Assistant and the Dentist, the dental assistant performs such duties as preparing the patient for dental treatment, assisting the dentist at the chair in restorative dentistry or oral surgery, preparing materials and setting up the correct equipment for the dentist’s use. The dental assistant sterilizes instruments.

She/he also helps establish a friendly, warm atmosphere for her/his patients, keeping them calm and at ease as much as possible.
*** This position description is intended to identify some of the duties and responsibilities of this position. MODOC MEDICAL CENTER reserves the right to modify, supplement, delete or augment the duties and responsibilities specified in this position description, at MODOC MEDICAL CENTER’S sole and absolute discretion.
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* POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

** General

Competencies:

1. Aids the dentist in the administration of treatment through proper chairside procedure.
2. Maintains responsibility and obligation primarily with the dental practitioner.
3. Remains with the dentist while he/she is with a patient to assist with the procedure.
4. Provides proper instruments, at the correct time in the proper sequence for any given treatment procedure.
5. Prepares dental material correctly, as needed, and in the amount of time sufficient for the procedure but not so much as to allow wasting of materials.
6. Maintains a clean, sterile, and neat working environment.
7. Makes sure that all forms for consent are signed by the patient.
8. Takes necessary course to take dental x-rays in California.
9. Completes all chairside clean-up procedures before any patient is seated.
10. Disinfects any portion of the dental chair exposed to saliva or the oral cavity before any patient is seated.
11. Sterilizes every item according to its correct sterilization procedures.
12. Changes gloves before each patient is treated.
13. Acquainting the patient with the aspects of their dental visit, and providing support and compassion to that patient when it is needed.
14. Following the directions and responsibilities associated with the dental assistant’s rotating assignments as delegated.
15. Cleans and organized lab.
16. Cleans and maintains equipment.
17. Stocks rooms and puts in order tabs.

General Supervision

Competencies:

The following are duties allowed under the general supervision of the dentist. A dental assistant may perform such basic supportive dental procedures under the dentist. Such procedures shall be checked and approved by the supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office of said dentist.  1. The Dental assistant may only accept those duties that lie within personal skill level.
2. Examine orthodontic appliances.
3. Operate radiographic equipment.
4. Mouth-mirror inspection of oral cavity, including charting of obvious lesions, existing restorations, and missing teeth.
5. Extra-oral duties or functions specified by the supervising dentist.
6. Anticipates the sequence of dental procedures and is prepared in advance for them so that the dentist can work as efficiently as possible.

Direct Supervision

Competencies:

The following are allowable duties under direct supervision of the dentist. A dental assistant may perform such basic supportive dental procedures as the following under the control and full professional responsibility of the supervising dentist. Such procedures shall be checked and approved by the supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office of said dentist.  
1. Remove arch wires.
2. Check for loose bands.
3. Cure restorative or orthodontic materials in operative site with light-curing device.
4. Apply topical fluoride after scaling and polishing by dentist or RDH.
5. Take impressions for diagnostic and opposing models.
6. Take impressions for bleaching trays, temporary crowns and sports guards.
7. Hold anterior matrices.
8. Place, wedge or remove matrices.
9. Assist…