Senior Dental Assistant

Location

Augusta University –

Health Sciences Campus: 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Summerville Campus: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904

The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University provides dental education to the next generation of professionals through innovative research, patient care, and service. It offers student clinics, resident care, and faculty practice models across more than 20 clinics statewide.

Provides comprehensive chairside assistance across all phases of dental care, supports clinical operations, maintains operatories and equipment, operates radiographic equipment, performs laboratory duties, and serves as a liaison among patients, staff, students, residents, and faculty.

CHAIR SIDE ASSISTANCE:

• Assist dental students, residents, and faculty in treating patients requiring emergency, restorative, prosthodontic, periodontic, endodontic, and oral surgery services.
• Participate in four‑handed dentistry, providing chairside support with air, water, suction, and instrumentation. Accurately mix and prepare dental materials as required.
• Assist in managing challenging clinical situations, including apprehensive or pre‑medicated adult patients.
• Aid in the placement of rubber dams and preparation of local anesthetic syringes. Dispose of sharps in designated containers immediately after patient discharge.
• Utilize a mouth mirror for indirect vision and gentle retraction of the patient’s cheek, maintaining comfort and avoiding unnecessary pressure on oral tissues.
• Operate high‑volume evacuation equipment with care and precision, maintaining stable suction during the use of handpieces or instruments.
• Comply with all published guidelines regarding PPE and infection control protocols. Maintain awareness of MSDS and properly handle and dispose of hazardous materials.

OPERATORY MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT:

• Manage and replenish dental and specialty supplies to ensure operatories are consistently stocked.
• Maintain assigned operatories in a clean, organized, and fully functional state throughout the day.
• Ensure dental equipment is cleaned and maintained in proper operative condition daily.
• Prepare, package, and maintain dental instruments and equipment in accordance with infection control protocols, coordinating with Central Sterilization for timely processing and retrieval.

DENTAL LABORATORY SUPPORT AND PROSTHODONTIC FABRICATION:

• Perform dental laboratory tasks such as pouring prosthodontic models, cleaning and trimming models, boxing and waxing impressions, and fabricating custom appliances.
• Construct custom trays, night guards, mouth guards, bleaching trays, and bite rims to support patient care and prosthodontic treatment planning.
• Polish dentures and prosthodontic appliances to ensure proper finish and patient comfort.
• Takes and mounts face‑bow records for proper occlusion of cast restorations.
• Relines dentures using hard and soft reline materials as needed for clinical adjustments.

RADIOLOGY:

• Operate dental radiographic equipment to obtain intraoral and extraoral images.
• Explain radiographic procedures clearly to patients to ensure understanding and cooperation.
• Properly position and secure lead aprons and collars to protect patients during imaging.
• Process, review, and upload radiographs into the electronic record system, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.

IV SEDATION:

• Assist with IV sedation procedures.

OPERATORY PREPARATION:

• Prepare operatories for patient treatment, ensuring appropriate instruments, materials, and equipment are laid out according to procedural requirements.
• Seat, drape, and explain procedures to patients to ensure understanding and comfort.
• Assist with clinical procedures by mixing materials for impressions and restorations and assembling anesthetic syringes.
• Prepare surgical operatories, including proper draping of all fields to maintain a sterile environment.
• Assist in specialty areas as needed, depending on clinic demands and schedule availability.

CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION AND CROSS‑DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT:

• Enter clinical findings into the electronic health record and update patient histories accurately.
• Assist with…