Dental Assistant

Job Summary

Performs comprehensive chairside assisting in all phases of dental care, including emergency dentistry, restorative procedures, pediatrics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, implant surgeries, and periodontics. Supports clinical operations through a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to preventive and routine maintenance of dental operatories and equipment; operation of radiographic equipment and completion of required radiological procedures; and clerical tasks and front‑desk/receptionist functions to support patient intake and scheduling.

Executes dental laboratory duties, including pouring and trimming molds, and fabricating custom dental appliances (e.g., bleaching trays, mouthguards, splints, night guards). Serves as a liaison between patients, staff, students, residents, and faculty to facilitate effective communication, workflow coordination, and continuity of care within the Dental College.

• Assist dental students, residents, and/or faculty in the treatment of 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.
• 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 the preparation of local anesthetic syringes. Properly dispose of sharps in designated containers immediately after the patient's discharge.
• Utilize a mouth mirror for indirect vision and gentle retraction of the patient's cheek, maintaining patient comfort and avoiding unnecessary pressure on oral tissues.
• Operate high‑volume evacuation equipment with care and precision, ensuring suction remains stable during the use of handpieces or instruments.
• Comply with all published guidelines regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and clinical infection control protocols.
• Maintain awareness of MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), and properly handle and dispose of hazardous materials.
• Manages and replenishes dental and specialty supplies to ensure operatories are consistently stocked and ready for use.
• Maintains assigned operatories in a clean, organized, and fully functional state throughout the day.
• Ensures dental equipment is cleaned and maintained in proper operative condition daily.
• Prepares, packages, and maintains dental instruments and equipment in accordance with infection control protocols, including coordination with Central Sterilization to ensure timely processing and retrieval.
• Performs a variety of dental laboratory tasks, including pouring prosthodontic models from impressions, cleaning and trimming models, boxing and waxing impressions, and fabricating custom appliances.
• Constructs custom trays, night guards, mouth guards, bleaching trays, and bite rims to support patient care and prosthodontic treatment planning.
• Polishes dentures and prosthodontic appliances to ensure proper finish and patient comfort.
• Takes and mounts face‑bow records to achieve proper occlusion for cast restorations.
• Relines dentures using both hard and soft reline materials as needed for clinical adjustments.
• Operates dental radiographic equipment to obtain intraoral and extraoral images as requested by clinical faculty or providers.
• Explains radiographic procedures clearly to patients to ensure understanding and cooperation.
• Properly positions and secures lead aprons and collars to protect patients during imaging procedures.
• Processes, reviews, and uploads radiographs into the patient's electronic record system, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.
• Prepares operatories for patient treatment, ensuring appropriate instruments, materials, and equipment are laid out according to procedural requirements.
• Seats and drapes patients, explains upcoming procedures to ensure patient understanding and comfort.
• Assists with clinical procedures by mixing materials for impressions and restorations and assembling anesthetic syringes.
• Prepares surgical operatories,…