Dental Assistant Job Descriptions

Create your own Dental Assistant job description, or find job description examples you can re-use to hire faster.

Dental Assistant Job Description

 

Dental assistants support dental offices in providing the best care to their patients. They do this in several ways. Often, a dental assistant is responsible for performing office, lab, and patient care duties. This can include greeting patients when they walk through the door, sanitizing instruments, and maintaining the office’s inventory of needed supplies. Some dental assistants also take X-rays of patients’ teeth.

Dental assistants don’t usually need a college degree. However, they often do need to complete an accredited program in dental assisting. This typically involves completing coursework, taking exams, and finishing a certain amount of work hours.

Dental Assistant Job Description Template

Our dental office is looking for a skilled dental assistant to join our staff. In this role, you will be responsible for preparing patients to see our dentists. This may involve preparing treatment rooms, sterilizing dental instruments, and performing some basic dental hygiene tasks. You may also be asked to take X-rays of patients’ teeth as well.

To be considered for this role, you will need to have a certification in dental assisting from an accredited program. You should also have strong patient skills and the ability to work effectively with limited supervision. Our practice is a busy one, so you should also feel comfortable managing competing priorities in a fast-paced work environment. If you believe that you possess these qualities, we’d love to see your resume.

Dental Assistant Responsibilities:

  • Prepare patients to be seen by our dentists
  • Help us maintain a sterile work environment by sanitizing dental instruments
  • Set up instrument trays, treatment materials, and assist in basic dental procedures
  • Take X-rays of patients’ teeth
  • Collect, record, and maintain the dental health records of our patients
  • Order dental supplies as needed to maintain the office’s inventory
  • Provide patients with information on dental hygiene and oral health

Dental Assistant Requirements:

  • Certification from an accredited dental assistant program
  • Dental X-ray certification
  • A positive, upbeat attitude
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Basic computer literacy
  • Professional appearance and demeanor
  • Ability to provide patients with exceptional care

 

Dental Assistant FAQ

What tasks does a dental assistant do?

The main goal of a dental assistant is to help a dental office provide better care to its patients. A dental assistant may be asked to perform a variety of tasks in pursuit of that goal. For example, this could include performing X-rays, greeting patients, offering oral health advice, maintaining patients’ records, sterilizing office equipment, refilling supplies, and more.

Can I use your dental assistant job description template?

You can absolutely use our dental assistant job description template as you see fit. However, we don’t recommend copying it word-for-word. Instead, you want to make an effort to highlight the parts of your position that may be unique from others that applicants are considering. Tis is one of the most effective ways to drum up interest in your job and attract more of the candidates that have relevant skills and qualifications.

What should I include in my dental assistant job help-wanted ads?

You can simply follow the outline that we’ve shown above. Start with one or two opening paragraphs that describe your dental assistant job in general terms. This is your opportunity to get applicants interested in the job, so make sure that you use engaging, compelling language.

After that, you can move into sections that cover the responsibilities and requirements of the job. This is where you’ll provide applicants with all of the details of the position that you didn’t mention initially. After reading  these sections, an applicant should have all of the information they need to identify whether your job is a good fit.

Frequently Asked Questions about hiring a Dental Assistant

What is the best way to find and hire a Dental Assistant near me?
Online job boards are the best place to find qualified Dental Assistant applicants. Employers posting their Dental Assistant job on Indeed get about 18 applications from that board on average.
Which job boards should I post on to find Dental Assistant applicants?
You should post to multiple job boards at once. The most successful job postings for a Dental Assistant are on Indeed – but on average, employers post to 15 boards at the same time, using tools like Workstream. Publishing to multiple job boards at once helps you get your first applicant in 22 hours on average, which is shorter than the national average for Dental Assistant positions.
What's the best way to communicate with applicants looking for a Dental Assistant role?
SMS has 90% open rates which is higher than phone call or Email. Text to hire today!
Is it OK to text Dental Assistant job applicants?
Hourly paid workers, such as Dental Assistants are actually more engaged when texting about jobs. We have found that text messages are 122% better than email at getting an applicant's response. Have a look at Workstream, which automates the process of texting and uses a phone number specifically assigned to your job post so you don’t have to use your personal phone.
Can I use a different phone number to engage Dental Assistant applicants via text message?
Yes, tools such as Workstream provide custom phone numbers that allow employers to engage with applicants through their tool without having to use a personal or business cell phone.

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