Dental Assistant-Lead

University of Mississippi Medical Center; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS is seeking a Lead Dental Assistant to supervise and instruct dental residents and faculty, provide chairside support, and ensure proper instrument processing and radiographic procedures.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED with two years of dental assisting experience, a Mississippi Dental Assistant Radiology Permit, and post-hire BLS/CPR training within 30 days; responsibilities include training students and maintaining

Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED and two (2) years of dental assistant experience.
• Dental Assistant Radiology Permit from the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners.
• Basic Life Support/CPR post-hire within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Provides chairside assistance to the dentist and/or dental hygienist during procedures.
• Prepares patients, sterilizes and disinfects instruments, sets up trays, prepares materials, and completes orders.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of other clinical staff and students.
• Instructs students in four-handed dentistry, radiographic techniques, and equipment operation.

Skills

Dental procedures

Sterile procedures

Radiation safety

Communication skills

Equipment setup

Dental radiographs

Supervisory skills

Computer skills

Student training

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Two years dental assistant experience

Job description

Job Information

Job Requisition ID: R00054529 Job Category: Allied Health Organization: SOD - Ambulatory Operations Manager - University Dentists

Job Title

Dental Assistant-Lead

Job Summary

To supervise and instruct various clinical personnel in assisting dental residents and/or faculty with the examination, delivery, and maintenance of oral healthcare. To maintain dental equipment and supplies and to ensure the proper disposal of chemicals and biohazard materials in accordance with established protocols, procedures, policies, and standards.

Education & Experience

High School Diploma/GED and two (2) years of dental assistant experience.

Certifications, Licenses, or Registration required

Dental Assistant Radiology Permit from the Mississippi State Board of Dental Examiners. Basic Life Support from the American Heart Association or CPR from the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association required post-hire within 30 days.

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate of an Accredited American Dental Association (ADA) Dental Assistant program.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of dental procedures, sterile procedures, and radiation safety standards and protocols. Verbal and written communication skills. Ability to set up and prepare dental equipment and instrumentation. Ability to develop and process dental radiographs. Ability to perform basic supervisory and computer functions. Ability to train and motivate students.

Responsibilities

Provides chairside assistance to the dentist and/or dental hygienist during the performance of dental procedures. Prepares patients, sterilizes and disinfects instruments, sets up instrument trays, prepares materials, and completes orders. Supervises, schedules, monitors, and evaluates the performance of first and second level dental assistants, as well as other clinical and dispensary personnel. Instructs students in the principles of four-handed dentistry, dental assistant utilization, radiographic techniques, and the operation and maintenance of radiographic and laboratory equipment. Processes radiographs and oversees, monitors, and maintains supplies and dental equipment, including compressors, evacuator systems, radiographic developing equipment, sterilizers, light-curing equipment, and other laboratory equipment. Works with property officers to track clinical equipment. Ensure compliance with safety and infection-control standards.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Requires frequent exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, frequent handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, frequent exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations, occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, frequent bending, occasional lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds, frequent crouching/stooping, occasional kneeling, occasional pushing/pulling, constant reaching, constant sitting, frequent standing, frequent twisting, and occasional walking. (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more)

Time Type

Full time

FLSA Designation/Job Exempt

No

Pay Class

Hourly

FTE %

100

Work Shift

Day

Benefits Eligibility

Grant Funded: No

Job Posting Dates

Job Posting Date: 10/8/2026

Job Closing Date (open until filled if no date specified): 10/11/2026

Location

Main Campus Jackson

Employee Culture

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is committed to educating the next generation of health professionals, discovering new cures and treatments and providing the highest quality health care. We foster environments that support respect, compassion and belonging for all faculty, staff and students as well as patients and visitors. Our employment, academic, research and clinical care practices reflect these commitments.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity Statement

UMMC is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), disability, age, sex (as that term is defined in applicable laws such as 45 CFR § 92.101(a)(2) and binding court decisions), religion, genetic information, veteran’s status and any other status protected by applicable law.

UMMC also prohibits retaliation against those who report discrimination or harassment and against those who participate in the Medical Center’s investigation and handling of such reports.

Further, UMMC complies with all applicable statutes, regulations and executive orders regarding sex discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, including but not limited to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity UMMC operates including in admission and employment, the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistic Act (“Clery Act”) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (“SaVE Act”).

UMMC’s commitment to nondiscrimination applies to all of its programs, services, opportunities and activities, including but not limited to all employment, academic, research and clinical care practices and extends to all students, applicants for admission, employees, applicants for employment, affiliates, subcontractors, on-site contractual staff, third party or community members, visitors to any of our campuses and others participating in UMMC programs or receiving UMMC services. With respect to employment in particular, this commitment applies to all employment decisions including but not limited to recruitment, employment, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions and termination.

UMMC maintains an affirmative action program in accordance with applicable laws.

Consistent with these laws, UMMC takes affirmative action to recruit, employ, advance and prevent discrimination against qualified individuals.

For additional information, please check here: Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov).

In compliance with Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and other federal civil rights laws and to ensure individuals with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to, have an equal opportunity to participate in and have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our programs, activities, services and other benefits, UMMC provides the following in a timely manner and free of charge: reasonable modifications to our policies, practices, or procedures for qualified individuals with disabilities when such modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability; appropriate auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities (including individuals’ companions with disabilities) which may include qualified sign language interpreters and written information in other formats including braille and large print and language assistance services for individuals with limited English proficiency (including individuals’ companions with limited English proficiency) which may include qualified interpreters and information written in other languages.

Complaint Process

You may request additional information, accommodation or file a complaint through the applicable process identified below. Inquiries or complaints relating to discrimination or other employment issues may be referred to the Office of Employee Relations, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505 or emailed to [e-mail]. If you are a UMMC Student who needs more information or needs to file a complaint, please click here. You may also report any allegations of UMMC’s noncompliance with any legal requirement using UMMC’s Compliance Line. If you are anyone who has experienced, witnessed or otherwise has knowledge of any alleged violation of UMMC’s Title IX policy, please click here. If you are a Visitor/Patient who needs more information or needs to file a complaint, please click here.