Dental Assistant or Registered Dental Assistant (Full Time, 40-hour work week)
5/7/2026
Provide chair-side assistance to dentists and hygienists while managing the sterilization of instruments and equipment. Handle front-office duties including patient scheduling, chart monitoring, and inventory control.
Salary
21.81 - 30.04 USD
Working Hours
40 hours/week
Company Size
201-500 employees
Language
English
Visa Sponsorship
No
Description
Salud Para La Gente (SALUD) provides high quality, comprehensive and cost-effective healthcare to underserved low-income communities in the Monterey Bay area, including Santa Cruz County and North Monterey County. We began in Watsonville 1978 as a storefront “free clinic,” and with the ever growing need for health services, in 1992 became a federally qualified community health center (FQHC). Today we are a primary health care network with 12 clinic sites, over 400 employees and continue provide high quality services to patients of all ages.
SALUD offers a competitive salary and a collaborative culture that values excellence, achievement, innovation and compassion.
We are seeking a dynamic, organized and detail-oriented Dental Assistant to assist the Dentist in the provision of dental services to the patients, both front and back office.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Chair side assistant to dentist and dental hygienist for chair side procedures, under supervision of dentist and/or dental director.
- Prepare and develop patient x-rays; labeling of x-rays.
- Sterilization of all instruments and chair side supplies; maintenance of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
- Maintain the evacuation system, laboratory equipment, air compressor, evacuation system, and supplies.
- Inventory control assistant; monitor supplies and ordering.
- Monitoring of patient charts under supervision of dentist.
- Assists in management of patient scheduling, patient charts, and recall system.
- Assists in front office as needed.
- Perform other front and/or back office duties as deemed necessary.
The ideal candidate will embrace our mission to provide high quality health care to patients of all ages. Possess excellent communication and problem solving skills. This position requires the ability to follow instructions of the Dental Director and/or dentist, assess patients' complaints to determine whether to schedule, to refer to specialist, or to treat as walk-in, communicate effectively and respectfully with all patients, work as chair side Dental Assistant as well as front office for dental clinic, work Saturdays and/or extended shift when required.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- High school diploma or GED
- Must possess Dental Assistant certificate from an accredited DA program and X-ray License
- Knowledge and experience working with dental patients and dental equipment.
- Knowledge of both front and back office dental procedures.
- Fluent bilingual Spanish/English
- Current CPR certification
- Valid CA Driver’s License and current vehicle insurance; must be able to travel between sites.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- Bicultural candidates preferred
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary:
- Dental Assistant: $21.81 - $27.17
- Registered Dental Assistant: $24.11 - $30.04
Employment Type: Full Time, 40-hour work week
Benefits: available to all regular Salud employees working 24+ hours per week. Part-time employees may receive some benefits on a pro-rated basis.
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance Plans
- Paid Time Off (PTO): 19 days per year
- Paid Holidays: 12 per year
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer contribution
- 403 (B), FSA for dependent care
- Voluntary Long-Term Disability
Additional Information:
- Employees on temporary assignments are eligible for holiday pay and California sick pay, both pro-rated based on hours worked.
- On-call employees are eligible for California sick pay, pro-rated based on hours worked.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Standing, walking, sitting, typing, reaching, bending, moving and/or lifting up to 25 pounds.
Salud is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Salud is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact the Salud Human Resources Department, [831-728-8250, and HRDept@splg.org].
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