Dental Assistant

Quick Facts

• Role: Dental Assistant (supports direct patient care and assists with clinical and clerical functions)
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:30am–4:00pm

Description

Provide chairside assistance to the dentist, set up and disinfect/sterilize operatories, prepare patients and trays, and support routine dental procedures within infection-control protocols. Assist with basic dental radiographs (expose/process or save digital images) under supervision, maintain patient confidentiality (HIPAA), and support patient safety processes including identification and time-out. Perform equipment maintenance per manufacturer guidance and document/enter information in electronic records.

Responsibilities

• Prepare operatory/surgery suite for planned procedures; clean dental unit for timely turnover
• Receive and prepare patients for treatment; seat and position the chair; place napkin
• Disinfect and sterilize instruments; prepare procedural trays and armamentaria setups
• Perform basic chairside assisting with direct instruction; keep operative field clear and retract tissues effectively
• Complete intra-operative procedures using standard infection control protocols
• Use retraction, suction, irrigation, drying, and cotton roll placement/removal during procedures
• Assist in routine general dental procedures and relays patient concerns to the treating dentist
• Provide patient-preventative education and oral hygiene instruction
• Expose and process basic dental radiographs with direct supervision; mount/label or save digital imaging to electronic medical records
• Follow infection-control procedures for setup and teardown; prepare reusable equipment for sterilization
• Maintain patient confidentiality per HIPAA and follow computer security regulations
• Support patient safety: modify care based on age/abilities, provide accurate patient instructions, participate in patient identification and time-out
• Complete mandatory annual training
• Maintain dental equipment per manufacturer instructions and service standards

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selective Service registration required for eligible males (born after 12/31/1959)
• Complete required online onboarding and pre-employment documentation (including I-9 acceptable documents)
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required
• Qualification via 6 months relevant experience or successful completion of a 1-year ADA-accredited dental assistant program
• Radiologic competence credentialing via approved dental radiation safety education/examination pathway (temporary graduate appointment may be available if eligible, with certification required later)
• BLS certification is highly desirable

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year (13–26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays)
• Parental leave: up to 12 weeks paid after 12 months of employment
• Child care subsidy: may be available after 60 days for eligible full-time employees under an income threshold
• Retirement: traditional federal pension (with vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions
• Insurance: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care; many programs can be carried into retirement
• Telework: not available; Virtual: not a virtual position