Dental Assistant - Special Care Clinic

Job title: Dental Assistant - Special Care Clinic

About the Role Under the general supervision of the Clinic Manager, Special Care Clinic, assists students and faculty in all clinical aspects of patient care and treatment and coordinates all aspects of the hospital cases for the Special Care Clinic.

What You'll Do

• Perform patient care duties related to hospital dentistry, including scheduling operating room cases for various locations, organizing and prioritizing awaiting cases, scheduling OR screenings, placing confirmation telephone calls, retrieving/dispensing charts, and filing X-rays.
• Work with care providers, legal conservators, and regional centers for paperwork and all consents forms.
• Review with students the hospital process for sterile PPE, hand scrubbing, gowning, infection control, ergonomics, and dental team/patient positioning.
• Explain Special Care Clinic policies/procedures as they relate to dental treatment and financial obligations.
• Assemble patient charts with all appropriate paperwork (including legal conservatorship documents, preauthorization approvals, medical history/physical results); fax information to the hospital as needed; set up postoperative check appointments as needed.
• Collaborate with hospital personnel to order supplies; clean and maintain dental/hospital inventory and equipment.
• Load and unload instruments from the assigned cart, assist in the operating room, take and mount X-rays, and maintain/sterilize dental instruments.
• Prepare the operating room, assist with patient positioning, and assist the surgeon during operations by passing instruments and supplies while students observe the surgeon.
• Manage all instruments and supplies on the sterile field.
• Submit preauthorizations and supporting documents to primary healthcare coverage; track authorizations and forward to the treating facility.
• Provide care for special needs individuals with moderate to severe medical and developmental conditions.
• Perform chair-side duties in the Special Care Clinic (four-handed dentistry).
• Pour diagnostic models and perform minor laboratory procedures.
• Assist with and conduct Special Care Clinic and community public relations projects.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the Clinic Manager, Special Care Clinic.

What We're Looking For

• Knowledge of dental terminology and treatments; dental insurance billing procedures; chairside dental assisting; hospital-based dental assisting; sterilization and infection control; CPR; general office methods; and basic computer skills (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Minimum of one year of increasing responsibility in a dental office or dental school (including chairside dental assisting) and at least one year of experience in hospital dentistry.
• High school diploma or equivalent; current RDA license; current California x-ray license; current CPR certification.
• Medi-Cal billing experience strongly preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff and patients; manage patient management and time management; project a professional image; work in a fast-paced environment with composure; and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with or willingness to pursue Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Assistant / Oral Surgery Assistant role is a plus.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to diverse backgrounds and cultures, with a commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.

Nice to Have

• Experience as an Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Assistant / Oral Surgery Assistant (not required but a plus).

Compensation & Benefits

• Hiring range: $34.26 per hour (USD).