Dawn Smiley
San Antonio
Summary
Dynamic Registered Dental Assistant with expertise in infection control and patient counseling. Proven ability to manage patient schedules and perform four-handed procedures, ensuring optimal care and efficiency. Committed to enhancing patient experiences through education and support, while maintaining high standards of sterilization and safety.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Registered Dental Assistant
Canyon Lake Smiles
09.2025 - 12.2025
- Cleaned and sanitized dental tools and equipment, straightened treatment rooms, and restocked supplies to prep for next patient and maintain health and safety practices.
- Prepared comprehensive radiological images, allowing supervisory dental staff to spot cavities, tooth decay, and areas needing treatment.
- Educated patients on postoperative care and best practices for protecting dental work and boosting healing process.
- Assisted dentists by passing instruments, suctioning intraoral fluids, adding water, and mixing materials for fillings, casts and impressions.
- Educated patients on dental hygiene, pre-surgical instructions and post-surgical care.
- Typed patient data into computer system using Open Dental while following privacy laws and maintaining high-level accuracy.
- Sanitized trays, instruments, and surfaces for clean dental office setting and patient safety.
- Explained treatment procedures and instructed patients on home care guidelines.
- Performed general chair-side duties for general dentistry, endo procedures, and oral surgery.
- Supported dentists during procedures, assisting dental fillings, permanent, and temporary crowns and sealants.
Nutrition and Food Service Supervisor
Department of Veterans Affairs
09.2019 - 04.2025
- Maintained compliance with company policies and procedures for food safety, sanitation, and quality.
- Tracked food production levels, meal counts, and supply costs.
- Controlled labor hours and inventory costs through hands-on management and proactive changes.
- Identified team weak points and implemented corrective actions to resolve concerns.
- Delivered in-depth training to workers in food preparation and customer-facing roles to promote strong team performance.
- Monitored food quality and service levels to maximize kitchen and dining area performance.
- Established and managed team schedules and shift assignments.
- Oversaw training of more than 15 team members.
Food Service Supervisor
AAFES
11.2014 - 09.2019
- Ordered new supplies and food to maintain service levels.
- Kept guest and work areas clean, organized, and sanitized per established standards.
- Maintained health and food safety standards at all stages, from storage through delivery.
- Oversaw balancing of cash registers, reconciled transactions, and deposited establishment's earnings to bank.
- Maintained effective supply levels by monitoring and reordering food stock and dry goods.
- Prepared weekly schedules and assigned tasks to staff to maintain organized shift and smooth operations.
- Addressed and resolved customer service issues to establish trust and increase satisfaction.
- Trained and supervised new staff to enhance customer service skills and comply with food safety standards.
- Reviewed and approved employee schedules and timesheets.
- Tracked kitchen performance metrics to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Controlled food costs and managed inventory.
Dental Assistant
Schneider Pediatrics
08.2010 - 06.2014
- Assisted dentists, hygienists, and other personnel by handing appropriate tools and supplies needed for procedures.
- Maintained dental supply inventory by checking stock to determine inventory levels and placing and expediting orders for supplies.
- Prepared and arranged instruments, medications, and required materials for dental procedures.
- Documented patient dental health information, medical history, and vital signs for future reference.
- Prepared patient x-rays and images for dentist review.
- Recorded patients' health histories, documented current symptoms, and pulled up records from prior visits for dentists to view and evaluate.
- Successfully assisted dentist by performing four-handed dentistry and other chair-side duties.
- Took dental images following strict patient protection rules, applying lead aprons.
- Prepared patient X-rays and images for review by dentist.
- Measured and recorded vital statistics by taking patients' blood pressure, temperature, and pulse.
Education
GED -
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, GANo Degree - Registered Dental Assistant
Dental Assistant School of Texas
Boerne, TX08-2025
Skills
- Patient schedule management
- Periodontics
- Patient intake procedures
- Dental office administration
- Exam room setups
- Infection control proficiency
- Four-handed procedures
- Sterilization techniques mastery
- Electronic charting
- Patient counseling
- Disinfecting rooms and equipment
- Multitasking
- Restorative procedures
- Dental radiography
- Team collaboration
Certification
- RDA - Registered Dental Assistant
- Certified Coronal Polishing
- Certified Sealant Pit and Fistures
- Nitrous Oxide Monitoring
Timeline
Registered Dental Assistant
Canyon Lake Smiles
09.2025 - 12.2025
Nutrition and Food Service Supervisor
Department of Veterans Affairs
09.2019 - 04.2025
Food Service Supervisor
AAFES
11.2014 - 09.2019
Dental Assistant
Schneider Pediatrics
08.2010 - 06.2014
GED -
Savannah Technical College
No Degree - Registered Dental Assistant
Dental Assistant School of Texas