Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery Clinic

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health's Oral Surgery Practice in Nashville is hiring a Dental Assistant to support providers and patients through the surgical experience, preparing rooms and equipment, obtaining patient histories, taking radiographs, and ensuring infection control and efficient clinic operations.

The ideal candidate is dependable, team-oriented, and passionate about delivering exceptional patient care while contributing to a positive patient experience.

Qualifications

• Assist during dental procedures and prepare treatment rooms.
• Take CBCT scans and dental radiographs.
• Document medical histories, vital signs, allergies, and pain assessments.
• Maintain sterilization and infection control standards.
• Ensure clinic runs smoothly and appointments stay on schedule.

Responsibilities

• Seating patients and preparing them for their visit.
• Obtaining and documenting medical histories, vital signs, allergies, pain assessments.
• Preparing treatment rooms, instruments, and surgical equipment.
• Taking CBCT scans and dental radiographs.
• Assisting providers during procedures, including suctioning and patient support.
• Turning over procedure rooms between patients.
• Cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining instruments.
• Stocking and organizing supplies.
• Ensuring appointments stay on schedule.
• Escorting patients following sedation.
• Collaborating closely with providers, nurses, and team members to deliver an exceptional patient experience.

Skills

Dental assisting

Patient care

Radiography CBCT

Infection control

Team collaboration

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region's largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you'll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

Oral Surgery Practice

Job Summary:

As a Dental Assistant, you will support providers and patients throughout the surgical experience by preparing treatment rooms and equipment, obtaining patient histories and clinical information, taking radiographs and CBCT scans, assisting during procedures, maintaining sterilization and infection control standards, and ensuring efficient clinic operations. The ideal candidate is dependable, team-oriented, and passionate about delivering exceptional patient care while contributing to a positive patient experience. Assists in preventive, therapeutic, cosmetic and other dental services with occasional guidance by a board certified Oral Surgeon.

Position Information

• Monday - Friday
• Flexible schedule between 7am - 5:30pm
• No nights, no weekends, no holidays
• Free parking

Responsibilities

• Seating patients and preparing them for their visit
• Obtaining and documenting medical histories, vital signs, allergies, pain assessments, and other clinical information
• Preparing treatment rooms, instruments, and surgical equipment
• Taking CBCT scans and dental radiographs
• Assisting providers during procedures, including suctioning and patient support
• Turning over procedure rooms efficiently between patients
• Cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining instruments according to infection control standards
• Stocking and organizing supplies to keep the clinic running smoothly
• Ensuring appointments stay on schedule
• Escorting patients following sedation procedures
• Collaborating closely with providers, nurses, and team members to deliver an exceptional patient experience

Department Summary

This clinic provides comprehensive care for patients of all ages, offering preventive, restorative, and emergency services to support lifelong oral health. What sets Vanderbilt apart is its collaborative approach to care, working closely with medical teams to support patients preparing for surgery, cancer treatment, or radiation therapy. As part of an academic medical center, the practice combines advanced clinical expertise with a patient-centered experience, serving everyone from community members to professional athletes, including the Nashville Predators. Through innovative resources such as the My Health at Vanderbilt patient portal, the team is committed to delivering convenient, coordinated, and high-quality dental care.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs dental assistant duties.
• Prepares patient for procedure and/or exam.
• Provides patient with instructions.
• Maintenance and cleaning of equipment.
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

• Sterilization Preparation (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate sterilization preparation in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.
• Patient Documentation (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate patient documentation in practical applications of moderate difficulty. Generally works under the direction of others while accomplishing assignments.
• Dental Terminology (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate dental terminology in practical applications of moderate difficulty.
• Patient Exam Room Care (Novice): Possesses sufficient fundamental proficiency to successfully demonstrate patient exam room care in practical applications of moderate difficulty.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health's reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities:

• Organizational Impact: Performs clearly defines tasks and met