Dental Assistant/Driver Mobil Dental Unit

About JWCH:

JWCH Institute, Inc. is a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with a mission to provide comprehensive health care to low-income and homeless people in the County of Los Angeles.

For many people, gaining access to dental care isn’t simply a matter of finding the nearest dentist. Some may face language and cultural issues that keep them from connecting with dental providers. Others may lack insurance coverage, transportation or childcare that would make it easier for them to visit the dentist. JWCH works to assist patients with navigating barriers and helping them achieve better oral health and improved overall health outcomes.

Position Purpose:

The Dental Assistant supports the Mobile Dental Unit by performing oral screenings, providing community outreach, and assisting chairside at various company and non-company sites. This role requires travel between locations, flexibility in site assignments, and availability to work two Saturdays per month at clinical or mobile dental sites.

Responsibilities:

1. Educate and counsel patients to ensure a positive dental experience.
2. Demonstrate proper oral hygiene techniques, including brushing and flossing.
3. Assist the dentist chairside with exams, sealants, prophylaxis, fillings, and extractions.
4. Accurately record treatments in the patient's electronic chart.
5. Remove disposable barriers and prepare patients for dismissal.
6. Clean and prepare the operatory between patients.
7. Review treatment plans and medical histories, alerting the dentist to concerns.
8. Take and document patients’ vital signs, notifying the dentist of high readings.
9. Perform sealants and prophylaxis under provider supervision.
10. Assist with oral screenings and fluoride applications.
11. Maintain assigned operatory logs.
12. Clean suction lines and maintain Dental Unit Waterlines per policies.
13. Stock the operatory with necessary supplies.
14. Participate in annual JWCH customer service training (AIDET).
15. Apply fluoride, take impressions, and remove sutures under direct supervision.
16. Operate radiographic equipment and perform intraoral/extraoral photography under general supervision.
17. Ensure compliance with sterilization, infection control, and HIPAA regulations.
18. Coordinate care with schools, nurses, and parents for school-based programs.
19. Travel to designated sites daily and complete mileage reimbursement forms.
20. Work two Saturdays per month at mobile or clinical sites.

Note: Some responsibilities fall under chairside duties requiring direct supervision or general supervision as per scope of practice.

Requirements:

1. Effective written and oral communication.
2. An outgoing personality is a MUST.
3. Comprehensive knowledge of dental assisting techniques and procedures for all phases of general dentistry.  
4. Knowledge of modern dental materials, their storage, handling and applications. 
5. Ability to work with people from a wide diversity of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds. 
6. Ability to work creatively with other health care professionals from a variety of disciplines to achieve maximal results for the clinic’s patient, from a system of integrated primary health care. 
7. Ability to multitask and prioritize assignments and responsibilities to ensure compliance with established deadlines and protocols. 
8. Ability to work with Microsoft Word & Excel, emails, electronic record systems, attachments, online applications. 

Physical Requirements:

1. Prolonged sitting or standing may be required.   Those physical movements and the degree of mobility, manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination normally associated with dental assisting in specialty and general practice dentistry will be performed on a repetitive basis. 
2. Will be required travel to sites/program and special functions.
3. Work under stressful conditions as well as irregular hours may be required.

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:

1. Frequent exposure to communicable disease, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, radiation and other conditions common to a clinical environment may routinely be encountered. 
2. OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Classification - Category I. 
3. Utilizes appropriate Infection Control protocols.   
4. May be exposed to low level radiation.
5. Will be exposed to outside environmental conditions while traveling.

DA Education and Experience:

1. High School diploma or GED certificate required.
2. Active Class A driver’s license required. 
3. Customer service experience preferred.
4. Knowledge of specific issues related to Oral Health Education for children, adolescents, pregnant women and chronic medical conditions such as HIV, Diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers.
5. Completion of accredited courses in dental assisting.
6. Radiation Safety Certificate.
7. 8-hour Infection control per California Dental Board guidelines and current CPR and First Aid certificates required. 
8. Coronal Polish certificate required as of January 1, 2025.
9. Bilingual: English /Spanish is required

*All JWCH, Wesley Health Centers workforce members are recommended to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19.

Employee Benefits:

At JWCH Institute, Inc., we believe in taking care of those who take care of others. If you work 30 hours per week, you’ll enjoy competitive pay and a robust benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Monthly employer-sponsored allowance for assistance with health premiums.
• Funded Health Savings Account (up to deductible) to assist with carrier-approved medical expenses.
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave) and 13 paid holidays.
• 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing plan.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Short- and long-term disability plans (LTD/STD).
• Life insurance policy & AD&D, and more!

Become part of a team where your work matters. Apply today and help us change lives, one patient at a time.

JWCH Institute, Inc Wesley Health Centers is an Equal Opportunity and Fair Chance Employer.