Senior Dental Assistant

About This Role

This Senior Dental Assistant role involves providing comprehensive chairside assisting across all phases of dental care within a university setting, supporting both patient treatment and educational initiatives. The position plays a key role in clinical operations, including equipment maintenance, radiography, and patient support, serving as a liaison between diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist dental students, residents, and faculty in treating patients requiring emergency, restorative, prosthodontic, periodontic, endodontic, and/or oral surgery services
• Participate in four-handed dentistry, providing chairside support with air, water, suction, and instrumentation, and accurately mix and prepare dental materials
• Manage and replenish dental and specialty supplies, ensuring operatories are consistently stocked, clean, organized, and functional
• Prepare, package, and maintain dental instruments and equipment in accordance with infection control protocols, coordinating with Central Sterilization
• Perform various dental laboratory tasks, including pouring and trimming prosthodontic models, and fabricating custom appliances like nightguards and bleaching trays
• Operate dental radiographic equipment to obtain intraoral and extraoral images, explain procedures to patients, and process/upload radiographs
• Prepare operatories for patient treatment, ensuring appropriate instruments, materials, and equipment are laid out, and assist with clinical procedures
• Enter clinical findings into the electronic health record as dictated by dentists and ensure patient medical and dental histories are accurately updated
• Provide dental assisting services at off-campus sites for educational programs or patient care, using personal transportation with mileage reimbursement
• Adhere to all published guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) and clinical infection control protocols, including proper disposal of sharps and hazardous waste

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent with two years of related experience OR Certified Dental Assistant and/or Associate's degree with one year of experience in dentistry OR one year of experience as a Dental Assistant at the Dental College of Georgia OR Bachelor's degree with dental knowledge
• Understanding of dental terminology, procedures, and infection control protocols
• Familiarity with chairside assisting in general dentistry and various specialties (oral surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics)
• Working knowledge of dental instruments, materials, and sterilization techniques
• Proficient in four-handed dentistry

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent from a recognized state or federal accrediting organization with two years of related experience. OR Certified Dental Assistant and/or Associate's degree from an accredited college or university with one year of experience in dentistry. OR One year of experience as a Dental Assistant at the Dental College of Georgia. OR Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with dental knowledge.
• 2 years of related experience or 1 year with specific dental assistant education/experience

Nice to Have

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with dental knowledge
• Graduation from a Certified Dental Assisting program
• CPR certified
• Intraoral Radiographic Certification
• Two years of experience in general dentistry dental assisting covering multiple disciplines
• Training with radiological safety
• Proficient in understanding and speaking Spanish in a clinical setting
• Obtain certification as a dental surgical anesthesia assistant within the first year of employment

Benefits

Certifications