Registered Dental Assistant

Overview:

The Lead Registered Dental Assistant oversees daily clinical operations and supports the dental team in delivering high-quality patient care. This role assists the dentist or periodontist during dental procedures, coordinates staff assignments, ensures compliance with infection-control and safety regulations, and helps maintain an efficient, organized, and patient-centered dental practice.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

Assist the dentist or periodontist during routine dental procedures, periodontal surgery, dental implant placement, and other specialty treatments.
Prepare treatment rooms, instruments, equipment, and surgical supplies.
Perform dental radiography, periodontal charting, and other clinical duties within the scope of California RDA licensure.
Maintain proper sterilization, disinfection, and infection-control protocols.
Review and update patient medical histories and clinical records.
Provide preoperative and postoperative instructions as directed by the dentist.

Leadership and Team Management

Supervise and coordinate daily activities of dental assistants.
Train, mentor, and support new and existing team members.
Delegate duties appropriately and monitor workflow to ensure efficient patient care.
Assist with staff scheduling, coverage, and daily clinical assignments.
Conduct team huddles and communicate important clinical updates.
Promote teamwork, professionalism, accountability, and a positive work environment.

Clinical Operations and Compliance

Ensure compliance with OSHA, infection-control requirements, and applicable dental board regulations.
Monitor sterilization procedures, equipment maintenance, and clinical supply inventory.
Maintain adequate stock of dental materials, instruments, and surgical supplies.
Identify opportunities to improve clinical efficiency and patient experience.
Assist with clinical documentation, quality assurance, and office protocols.
Communicate with the dentist, office manager, specialists, and referring offices as needed.

Patient Care and Customer Service

Deliver compassionate, professional, and respectful patient care.
Help patients understand treatment procedures and postoperative instructions.
Address patient concerns promptly and communicate clinical questions to the dentist.
Support timely appointments, smooth patient flow, and a positive patient experience.

OSHA (regulatory compliance area) • Direct patient care • Preoperative patient preparation • Dental office • Patient question and concern management • Clinical compliance checks • Dental care patient counseling • Preparing dental treatment areas • Surgical instrument organization • Customer service • Safety regulations • Staff scheduling • Oral surgery assistance experience • Full-time • Patient complaint handling • Care documentation • Team scheduling • Assisting medical staff • Mid-level • Periodontics • Healthcare infection prevention and control expertise • Preparing medical treatment area • Team development • Patient history taking • Operating room inventory management • Clinical staff mentoring • Team training • Registered Dental Assistant • Dental x-ray • Clinical assessment documentation • Perioperative Care • Health record tracking • Dental equipment • Perioperative care • Patient care leadership • Care facility supply management • Sterile processing inventory management • Sterile processing compliance tracking • Patient treatment • Medical post-procedure instructions • Patient education • Managing patient records • Radiology • Surface decontamination • Delegation • Team motivation (leadership skill) • Collaboration with surgical teams • Quality assurance experience within healthcare • Team building • Clinical program staff coordination