Dental Assistant

Job Description

The School of Dentistry has multiple opportunities for a Dental Assistant 2 to join their team.

The Office of Clinical Services (OCS) supports the operations of multiple School of Dentistry clinics in delivering dental care to the state’s largest and most diverse patient population. We utilize a team-oriented approach and work very hard to serve our patients and students. OCS is committed to providing an environment where every employee feels welcomed, valued, and appreciated.

The UW School of Dentistry (UWSOD) has an outstanding opportunity for a Dental Assistant 2 (DA2). Within the School of Dentistry, there are thirteen clinics where pre‑doctoral and graduate dental students are provided with education while also providing care to patients. Faculty and staff oversee these dentists‑in‑training. To support the educational mission of the school, the Dental Assistant – Oral Radiology in the Oral Radiology Clinic.

Based on patient treatment procedure and staffing needs, this role will also provide backup support to the D2 and D3 clinics for pre‑doctoral students, and the D2/D3 clinic dispensaries. In addition, this individual will float as needed in other pre‑doctoral or graduate clinics within the UW School of Dentistry (Dental Admissions, Dental Urgent Care, DECOD (Dental Education in the Care of Persons with Disabilities), Endodontics, Oral Medicine, Orthodontics, Pediatric, Graduate Periodontics, Graduate Prosthodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and the UW Dentistry Campus Dental Center.)

Reporting to the Dental Clinic Supervisor 1 and Clinic Manager, the DA2 is expected to interact on a professional basis with students and the workforce at all times and provide excellent customer service to our patients. Participate in UWSOD‑required trainings such as health and safety, HIPAA, FERPA, BBP, and other Relias trainings.

The DA2 is assigned to work with student providers at critical stages throughout patient care, prioritizing work and coaching students in patient management. The DA2 interfaces with the supervising licensed dentist who is ultimately responsible for ensuring the quality of patient care.

The Dental Assistant 2 position may be asked to float in other areas of the pre‑doctoral clinic such as Sterilization, Dispensaries, Clerkships and other clinics within the UWSOD.

• Perform chairside four‑handed dentistry with dental students in the Student Teaching clinics.
• Obtain and prepare dental materials, such as impression material, composite, bonding agents, and disposables needed for patient care.
• Independently operate equipment to take a full range of routine and complex digital intraoral and extraoral radiographs, including periapical, bitewing, panoramic, occlusal, and lateral images, and cone beam computed tomography scans.
• Aid dental students, residents and/or faculty in four‑handed dentistry and in routine chair‑side duties and patient care.
• Clean and prepare treatment areas using School of Dentistry standardized infection control protocols.
• Conduct inventories and stock supplies.
• Monitor school‑owned instruments for breakage and wear; assess replacement needs and maintain clinic hand pieces.
• Suggest process improvements to leadership.
• Participate in dental student clinic orientations and limited classroom activities related to the dental team; may participate in orientation and training of new staff members.
• Perform related dental assistant duties as assigned.

• Conduct entire sterilization cycle for all School clinics; debride, perform quality checks, replace instruments as necessary, wrap and sterilize items, following pre‑sterilization and sterilization protocols.
• Utilize scanning software system to monitor the distribution and flow of instruments, hand pieces, and other patient care items to maintain strict infection control protocols.
• Operate autoclaves, washers, and other sterilization equipment; conduct biological testing of equipment.
• Maintain hand piece, cassette, bur, impression tray, and spore testing logs; notify parties of discrepancies and report any ongoing…