Registered Dental Assistant
Job Summary
As a Registered Dental Assistant the RDA will be performing a wide variety of duties. The RDA helps the dentist while providing care to patients, as well as delivering preparatory services such as preparing trays and mixing any needed materials. Also, RDAs are in charge of cleaning the area and disposing of used items after patient care is completed. Other tasks performed by the RDA include keeping the clinic clean and hygienic, tracking the availability of supplies and reordering supplies when they are running low. When X-rays are necessary, the RDA takes and processes them. Additionally, RDAs conduct a preliminary evaluation of the patient's oral health, including but not limited to, charting, intramural and extra-oral assessment of soft tissue (excluding periodontal probing), classifying occlusion and myofunctional evaluation.
RDAs are also expected to obtain patient history records and update these files as needed, as well as help maintain machines and perform troubleshooting when problems with devices occur.
A current dental assistant license from the state in which the RDA wishes to practice is needed for this position, as is CPR certification. Relevant experience and education are often necessary as well. Strong patient service skills are required to help patients feel comfortable and enable them to return to the practice for future appointments.
The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy. Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement. The salary range for this position is $31.53 - $39.63 (Hourly Rate). To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html Department Description Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is a dental specialty which overlaps several medical specialties as it performs cosmetic, dentoalveolar, dental implant, reconstructive, TMJ and craniofacial surgery of the mid to
lower face, as well as diagnoses and treats pathology from infections to tumors in the same region. The primary activities of the UCSF Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery are patient care, teaching and research. Patient care is provided at seven sites - VAMC, SFGH, Mt. Zion, Moffitt, 707 Parnassus, 513 Parnassus and 100 Buchanan.
The Department also has two other non-specialty services for its patients. There is a general dentist who provides dental services to patients who are medically compromised, physically or mentally challenged or have a phobia of dentistry. This service is provided in the Surgery Center or Operating Room at both Mt. Zion and UCSF Medical Center. In addition, there is a dental/medical service (Center for Orofacial Pain) that focuses on the conservative treatment of facial pain especially pain originating from the temporomandibular joint.
Teaching involves pre-doctoral students, approximately 80 junior and 80 seniors that rotate through the 707 Parnassus and SFGH clinics as well as selective four-week clerkships at other sites. In addition there are pre-doctoral students that come as externs or exchange students from elsewhere in the United States and Europe. Residents are enrolled in an integrated Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/MD program of 6 to 7 years. An integrated PhD increases the program length to ten years. A new postgraduate program was implemented July 1999 in the Center for Orofacial Pain for one resident to obtain specialized training in this field. In addition, there is a pending GPR (General Practice Residency) program. Lastly, there are visiting post-docs that come from everywhere in the world.
The department also serves the School of Dentistry through its role as the Department of Hospital Dentistry. Thirty one providers, mostly faculty members from the other four departments of the School have their appointments on the medical staff through the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Research involves both clinical and basic science research. Funding sources include the federal government (e.g. NIH and NIDR), state (Tobacco tax funds, BRSG, Academic Senate), private foundations (e.g. professional organizations like ABOMS and AAOMS) and Departmental funding sources.
The employee will perform RDA duties in four of the practices: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Orofacial Center, Center for Orofacial Pain and Hospital Dentistry.
MISSION: Advancing health through excellence in patient care, education and discovery.
VISION: To be the preeminent innovator in oral and craniofacial health worldwide.
VALUES: Through our values, we demonstrate PRIDE in all that we do.
Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.
We provide comprehensive oral health care services with over 120,000 patient visits per year. We offer a four-year DDS program as well as a two-year program for international dentists that culminates in the DDS degree. We have numerous specialty residencies, PhD and Master's degree programs in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, a combined DDS-PhD program, and a combined PhD-dental specialty training program. Other graduate programs include Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology and Bioengineering, and a DDS/MBA program. The School is one of the preeminent oral and craniofacial research enterprises in the world, ranking number one in National Institute of Health funding for 25 consecutive years. Required Qualifications
- Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a Registered Dental Assistant as determined by the California Board of Dental Examiners and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
- California x-ray Safety License
- Must have four years of RDA experience in a busy oral surgery or dental practice.
- Familiar with infection control policies and procedures; HIPPA
- Knowledge of high clinical standards in dental assisting practices and the demonstrated ability to implement these standards.
- Ability to understand patients' needs and the knowledge to meet those needs.
- Knowledge of maintenance and operation of dental equipment and instruments.
- Demonstrated excellence in reliability and attendance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bilingual, Spanish speaker preferred
- Experience taking X-rays on all patient ages (pediatric-adult)
- Experience with dental specialties (Oral Surgery, perio, pediatrics, endo, hospital dentistry)
License/Certification
- Possession of the legal requirements to practice as a Registered Dental Assistant as determined by the California Board of Dental Examiners and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
- California x-ray Safety License
About UCSF The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world's leading experts in nearly every area of health. We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells. Pride Values UCSF is a diverse community made of people with many skills and talents. We seek candidates whose work experience or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence - also known as our PRIDE values.
In addition to our PRIDE values, UCSF is committed to equity - both in how we deliver care as well as our workforce. We are committed to building a broadly diverse community, nurturing a culture that is welcoming and supportive, and engaging diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, and patient care. Additional information about UCSF is available at diversity.ucsf.edu
Join us to find a rewarding career contributing to improving healthcare worldwide. Equal Employment Opportunity The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Job Code and Payroll Title 009196 REG DENTAL AST Bargaining Unit American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - Patient Care Technical Unit (AFSCME-EX) Location San Francisco, CA Additional Shift Details Monday - Friday; 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
University of California - San Francisco Campus and Health
Jan 27, 2026