Dental Assistant-Palm Springs

Dental Assistant-Palm Springs Salary $37,939.20 - $53,352.00 Annually

Location: Throughout Riverside County Job Type: Regular Job Number: 26-57731-01 Department: RUHS-Community Health Clinics Opening Date: February 13, 2026 Closing Date: February 18, 2026 12:35 AM Pacific

Description

Benefits Questions ABOUT THE POSITION

The County of Riversides Riverside University Health System - Community Health Clinics (CHC) has an opportunity for a Spanish Bilingual Dental Assistant. The position is located in Palm Springs (Employees are required to be available to cover at our sister clinics). Traveling is required. Under close supervision, provides chairside assistance to dentists and oral surgeons; takes and processes digital x-rays; prepares instruments and patients for examinations and treatment; performs other related duties as required.

Job Summary

The Dental Assistant is a journey level classification and reports to an Assistant Nurse Manager, Healthcare Assistant Administrative Manager, or Dentist. Incumbents work under the technical guidance and supervision of oral surgeons and dentists and provide chairside assistance by preparing instruments and patients for examinations and treatments. The Dental Assistant class is further tasked with reviewing and maintaining patients records, taking and processing digital x-rays, sterilizing instruments, scheduling appointments, and performing post-operative cleanup.

Essential Duties

• Assist dentists and oral surgeons by preparing and arranging dental instruments, equipment, and medication; prepare local anesthetic syringes for the dentist.
• Prepare patients for treatment and examination; clean and sterilize instruments; perform post-operative cleanup.
• Take and process digital dental x-rays.
• Schedule appointments into the Patient Management Information System (PMIS), complete billing documents and data entry in the PMIS, and maintain dental records for all dental patients.
• Mix impression materials; instruct patients in proper practices of dental hygiene.

Minimum Qualifications

• Option I: Education - Possession of a valid certificate of completion from an accredited dental assistant training program.
• Option II: Experience - One year of providing chairside dental assistance to dentists and/or oral surgeons.
• Other Requirements:
• Possession of valid Basic Life Support (BLS) certificates issued by a provider certified by the American Heart Association.
• Possession of a valid certificate of examination for Radiation Safety issued by the California State Board of Dental Examiners.
• Completion of a California Dental Board approved course in the California Dental Practice Act.
• A California Dental Board approved course in infection control.
• Possession of a valid California Drivers License is required.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Knowledge of: Dental assistant procedures; principles and methods of sterilization; proper care and use of dental instruments, equipment, and materials.
• Ability to: Take and process digital dental x-rays; learn basic operating room procedures necessary in oral surgery; comprehend and follow oral and written instructions; analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of both a pre-employment physical exam, including a drug/alcohol test, and a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment.)

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

Supplemental Information

This classification rate of pay will be set in accordance with California Senate Bill 525 requirements for applicable departments.

Application Information

Veterans Preference The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, upload a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service, and a copy of your spouses letter of disability (if applicable) with your application. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference.

Reasonable Accommodations The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above.

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Benefits

The County of Riverside offers a range of benefits, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Benefit Credit contribution
• Retirement plans through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Deferred compensation plan
• Vacation accrual
• Sick leave
• Holidays
• Bereavement leave
• Basic life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Post-retirement medical contribution

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered. Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting.