Job Description
Asian Health Services, founded in 1974, provides health, social, and advocacy services for all regardless of income, insurance status, immigration status, language, or culture. Our approach to wellbeing focuses on “whole patient health,” which is why we provide more than primary care services, including mental health, case management, nutrition, and dental care to more than 50,000 patients in English and 15 languages: Korean, Lao, Burmese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mien, Karen, Mongolian, Karenni, Tagalog, Khmer, and Vietnamese. We offer medical, dental, and mental health services for all ages.
LOCATION: San Leandro, CA
JOB SUMMARY:
Under general supervision of the Chief Dental Officer provides lead direction to the clinic activities of Dental Assistant (DA), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Registered Dental Assistant EF (RDAEF); coordinates daily operation of the dental clinic; and provides direct supervision to all licensed and non-licensed auxiliaries in the dental clinic. Performs all duties of a RDA or RDAEF including assistance to the dentist and dental hygienist during a variety of treatment procedures, and other functions as legally allowed in the state of California. Participates in inter-department operations meetings that establish, monitor, and improve operational policies in such areas as health and safety, patient and client services, facility, outreach & advocacy, technology, and other issues that have organization-wide impact.
Professional Clinic Duties
All duties of a Dental Assistant including the ones listed below:
Setting up
Helping patients feel comfortable before, during, and after dental treatment
Asking about or verifying when necessary a patient’s medical history and taking blood pressure and pulse
Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
Chairside assisting
Providing patients with instructions for oral care following dental treatment procedures
Teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health (like tooth brushing, flossing and nutritional counseling
Serving as infection control officer, developing infection control protocol and preparing and sterilizing instruments and equipment, and the patient’s area
Keeping operatories stocked and sterile
Maintaining dental equipment
Taking impressions of patients’ teeth for study casts (models of teeth).
May apply non-aerosol and non-caustic topical agents
May remove post-extraction and periodontal dressings
May place and remove elastic orthodontic separators
May hold anterior matrices
May remove sutures
May apply topical fluoride after scaling and polishing by the Dentist, Hygienist, or Dental Supervisor RDA-Clinic Coordinator
May place and remove rubber dams
Other dental or chairside duties assigned by the supervisor.
Peform patient screening procedures such as-
Assessment of oral health conditions, review of the health history, oral cancer screening, head and neck inspection, dental charting and taking blood pressure and pulse;
Taking and developing dental radiographs (x-rays)
Removing calculus and plaque (hard and soft deposits) from all surfaces of the teeth
Applying preventive materials to the teeth (sealants, fluorides)
Teach patients appropriate oral hygiene strategies to maintain oral health including toothbrushing, flossing and nutritional counseling
Counsel patients regarding good nutrition and its impact on oral health
Make impressions of patients’ teeth
Study casts
Evaluate patient treatment needs
Perform documentation and office management activities
May perform the following procedures
Obtain endodontic cultures
Dry canals previously opened by the supervising Dentist, with absorbent points
Test pulp vitality
Place bases and liners on sound dentin
Remove excess cement from gingival surfaces of teeth with a hand instrument or fluoride
Size stainless steel crowns, temporary crowns and bands
Temporary cementations and removal of orthodontics bands
Placements of orthodontic separators
Placements and litigations of arch wires
Placement of post-extractions and periodontal dressings
Coronal polishings
Removal of excess cements from coronal surfaces of teeth by means of ultrasonic scaler
Other Duties
Observe professional and ethical standards of the job.
Follow clinic protocols.
Comply with OSHA regulations.
Comply with AHS health and safety rules and procedures.
Comply with Human Resources requirements such as attending periodic in-service training, meeting annual health exam requirement, submitting proof of CME and license renewals, etc.
Assist in providing orientation to new employees including newly-employed Dental Assistants, RDA, Dental Hygienist, Dentist, etc.
Be willing to assist in other tasks as requested when appropriate and time allows.
Attend regular department meetings and organization-wide staff meetings.
Promote teamwork and a positive work environment in the department.
Participates in agency-wide quality improvement program processes and performance improvement teams to ensure excellence in the quality of services provided across the agency.
Supervisory Responsibililties
Provide supervision, direction and coordination of the work to Dental Assistants, Registered Dental Assistants, RDAEFs, dental assisting students and volunteers. Ensure adequate staffing each workday. Provide new-staff orientation to all supervised staff including students and volunteers.
Responsible for determining the competency of candidates for dental auxiliary positions. Assist the Chief Dental Officer in consultation with Human Resources in all aspects of recruitment, hiring, evaluating, disciplining, new-staff orientation and in-service training, and terminating licensed and certified dental auxiliaries
Perform periodic evaluations of all supervised staff.
Provide supervision to front office staff in the absence of the Dental Operations Coordinator and the Chief Dental Officer.
Review and approve timesheets of all supervised employees.
Provide training and development of personnel under supervision.
Work with the Chief Dental Officer to coordinate and enforce policies system-wide, effectively communicates these changes, and provide necessary training to other staff regarding policies and procedures.
Assist the Chief Dental Officer in compliance and licensure requirements.
Act as liaison with Fiscal department, Administration department, IT department for operational, business, supplies and equipment, facility, and systems-related issues. May delegate some of duties to the Dental Services Representative.
Represent the dental service component in inter-department meetings and other organization wide bodies for operation policy and procedure discussions. Participate, as needed in performing designated assignments generated in these discussions. Communicate these to the dental services department in a timely manner.
Is a member of the AHS Safety Committee representing the dental clinic department; participates in and enforces all health and safety policies and plans.
As the designated HIPAA compliance person of the dental clinic department, participates in HIPAA-related meetings and assumes responsibility for the department’s getting timely information and obligation to comply.
Perform other duties assigned or delegated by the Chief Dental Officer.
General Agency/AHS Duties
Fosters an environment that promotes trust and cooperation among clients and staff.
Enforces clinic policies and procedures, including maintenance of client confidentiality under HIPAA privacy rules, to ensure that the principles of AHS are implemented.
Plays an active role in planning organization-wide activities such as AHS general membership meetings, fundraisers, special clinic days and other events.
Participates in general membership meetings, fundraisers and other public events, as required.
Participates in outreach activities, agency advocacy, and serves on ad hoc committees, as requested.
Attends AHS staff retreats and Board of Directors meetings, as required.
Participates in agency-wide quality improvement program processes and performance improvement teams to ensure excellence in the quality of services provided across the agency.
Minimum Qualifications
Two years full-time or its equivalent experience performing the duties of a Registered Dental Assistant in a hospital or clinic setting.
One year full-time or its equivalent experience performing the duties of dental clinic work supervisor or office manager with supervisory role
Must have effective supervisory skills
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Demonstrated fluency in English and any Asian language
Ability to work under stress and pressure, and ability to maintain harmonious relationship with all dental clinic staff and staff of other departments.
Certifications, Licenses, Registrations
Valid Registered Dental Assistant California licenseCDA for Supervising Dental AssistantCurrent certification for RDAEF
Valid Dental Hygienist California license
Passage of Radiation Health and Safety examination
Passafe of Infection Control examination
Current coronal polishing certificate
Current CPR card
Valid X-ray certificate
Physical & Work Demands
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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Able to lift up to 40 pounds and push up to 100 pounds (on wheels). Able to work on feet the majority of the day without tiring. Must be able to hear adequately to auscultate B/PS. Must have adequate vision to read x-rays. Must have high manual dexterity and tactile sensation on fingertips. Must be able to reach above the shoulder level to work, able to bend, squat, sit, stand and twist
BENEFITS:
Medical, Dental, Vision premiums 100% paid by AHS
12 Vacation Days
12 Sick Days
12 Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays
3% 403B Employer Contributions and up to 2% Employee Match Contribution
Transportation Benefit Paid by AHS
FSA/Dependent Care Assistance
Long Term Disability
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Temporary work,