Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery Clinic

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; United States; On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health Oral Surgery Practice is seeking a Dental Assistant to support providers and patients through the surgical experience. You will prepare treatment rooms, obtain patient histories, take radiographs, and assist during procedures while maintaining sterilization and infection control standards.

The ideal candidate is dependable, team-oriented, and dedicated to exceptional patient care. This role operates Monday to Friday with a flexible schedule between 7am and 5:30pm, offering free

Qualifications

• Certifications: LIC-Registered Dental Assistant - Tennessee
• Experience: Relevant Work Experience
• Education: Graduate of an approved discipline specific program

Responsibilities

• Seat patients and prepare them for visits.
• Obtain and document medical histories, vital signs, allergies, pain assessments.
• Prepare treatment rooms, instruments, and surgical equipment.
• Take CBCT scans and dental radiographs.
• Assist providers during procedures, including suctioning and patient support.
• Maintain infection control standards and sterilize instruments.

Skills

Sterilization prep

Patient documentation

Dental terminology

Exam room care

Education

LIC-Registered Dental Assistant - Tennessee

Graduate of an approved discipline specific program

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
• Escort 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.

Core Accountabilities

• Organizational Impact: Performs clearly defines tasks and methods described in detail to achieve standardized solutions that impact own performance with regular guidance.
• Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Follows a well established process to solve routine problems where solutions are clearly prescribed.
• Breadth of Knowledge: Has basic job knowledge of systems and procedures that are common to own job.
• Team Interaction: Individually contributes to the team.

Core Capabilities

• Delivering Excellent Services : Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
• Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns in a timely manner.
• Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
• Ensuring High Quality : Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
• Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
• Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.
• Managing Resources Effectively: Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
• Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
• Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.
• Fostering Innovation :Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day‑to‑day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
• Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
• Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications

Responsibilities: Certifications: LIC-Registered Dental Assistant - Tennessee Work Experience: Relevant Work Experience Experience Level : Less than 1 year Education: Graduate of an approved discipline specific program

Benefits

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

EEO Statement

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled. PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO. Great health care takes great people. We’re looking for like‑minded individuals driven to make a difference. We invite you to explore careers at Vanderbilt Health, where we value collaboration, embrace continuous learning and foster an environment where everyone can thrive.

Company Overview

We’re the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, with a growing team and an expanding footprint across towns and communities throughout the region. We employ more than 43,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research and graduate medical education. Our employees also serve in critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fundraising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many other departments. Our growing academic health system has more than 2,100 licensed hospital beds at eight hospitals: Vanderbilt University Hospital Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital Vanderbilt Tullahoma‑Harton Hospital Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital Vanderbilt Health is the Mid‑South's largest provider of specialty care, with hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region, and Tennessee’s only National Cancer Institute‑designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for adults and children. We are one of the nation’s busiest critical care centers, home to Middle Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Center for adults and children, and Middle Tennessee’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We are the nation’s largest transplant center, and last year we performed the most heart transplants than any center worldwide. Vanderbilt Health is an epicenter for biomedical research, winning over $1 billion in annual research awards from government, industry, foundations and donors. We are also a national leader in medical training and education, with the largest clinical training center in the Mid‑South and the only training center in Tennessee for many adult and pediatric specialties. We’re honored to be consistently considered among the nation’s best hospitals for quality, safety and patient satisfaction.

Hospital Accreditations

Three of our hospitals - Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital - have been awarded a Five-Star Quality Rating from Medicare.

Culture and Growth

We support each other and encourage excellence among every member of our workforce. High‑achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. Join us in advancing health care.

Vision and Mission

Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health. Our mission: Personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities.