Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant Position

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) seeks a highly motivated and qualified individual for the Dental Assistant position.

The Dental Assistant will assist the dentist, maintain supplies and equipment, and, as needed, instruct and supervise students in the Campus Dental Clinic to ensure the safe and appropriate delivery of dental services while providing an effective learning experience for students both in clinic and in labs.

This position supports the College’s mission to support student success in post‑secondary academic transfer and workforce education that meets the needs of the South Sound region. This is demonstrated by supporting efforts to implement, administer, and coordinate instruction with students, staff, and the public on the content, policies, procedures, and activities of the Allied Health programs, and by ensuring compliance with all state and federal accrediting bodies.

South Puget Sound Community College is committed to increasing its cultural diversity with an emphasis on equity and inclusion among its professional staff. A firm understanding of anti‑racist policy development, coupled with the skills to eliminate barriers that harm under‑represented people, is a college requirement. The students that we serve come from a variety of backgrounds. On average, 43% of SPSCC students are people of color.

We strongly encourage members of the under‑represented groups, veterans, and bi‑ or multi‑lingual individuals to apply for this position to help meet the needs of our diverse students and service district.

• A healthy work/life balance for our employees, with the opportunity for flexible work schedules and remote work, depending on position and college needs
• Clipper Coffee Corner serves Batdorf & Bronson coffee and a selection of delicious food
• Health & Wellness Center
• FREE Bus service every 15 minutes to downtown Olympia and beyond
• FREE parking on our campuses – permits are not required
• On‑campus child care
• Many walking paths are marked and on nicely paved sidewalks
• SPSCC promotes wellness with a variety of workshops and events on campus
• Lots of activities with our Artist & Lecture series, which are FREE for staff and faculty
• Many community events in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that offer an opportunity for SPSCC employees to gather and connect around issues that define them personally and affect their work at the College and their professional development. Current Employee Resource Groups include:
  • Staff and Faculty of Color (SFOC) ERG - an employee network that strives to create an intentional and relational foundation for community and trust‑building across different groups through shared values.
  • The LGBTQIA+ ERG creates a space for LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty at the college to share resources, build support and community, and work towards greater equity and accessibility.

Dental Assistant 1 plays an essential role in supporting both patient care and student learning within a campus‑based dental clinic. This position assists with a wide range of clinical and administrative duties while helping to create a structured, supportive environment for students as they develop their clinical skills. Work in collaboration with faculty, staff, and students to ensure safe, efficient clinic operations, high‑quality patient care, and adherence to established protocols.

This role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, adaptability, and a commitment to fostering a positive, hands‑on educational experience in a collaborative clinical setting.

• Assist the dentist chairside (take digital X‑rays, fabricate and place temp crowns and fillings, take impressions, place sealants, make chart entries in Dentrix Ascend, take patient vitals, place dental dams and matrices).
• Set up and enforce correct infection control and hazardous waste protocol to include personal protective equipment for both staff and students, housekeeping, waste and sharps management, disinfection, sterilization, and records to include disposal of the above items.
• Communicate with the clinic business manager regarding inventory and equipment…